The final six places for the 2026 World Cup will be decided in the coming days, with two play-off tournaments completing the lineup for the expanded 48-team tournament. Four spots are up for grabs in the European play-offs, while two more will emerge from an intercontinental tournament hosted in Mexico.
Four-time champions Italy face the prospect of missing a third consecutive World Cup. Coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted: “It’s undeniable that there’s nervousness. Only someone without blood running through their veins wouldn’t feel it.” New Caledonia, Suriname, Kosovo and Albania are also aiming to qualify for the first time.
The European play-offs consist of eight one-off semi-finals followed by four finals. Key fixtures include Italy versus Northern Ireland in Path A, and Denmark against North Macedonia in Path D. Twelve European nations have already secured their places, with the final four to be decided this week.
The intercontinental play-offs feature six teams: Jamaica, Suriname, Iraq, DR Congo, Bolivia and New Caledonia. The four lowest-ranked nations play semi-finals, with winners facing DR Congo and Iraq in the finals. All matches are being held in Guadalajara and Monterrey, with semi-finals on Thursday and finals next Tuesday.
Already qualified are 12 European teams including England, France, Germany and Spain, plus nations from Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, kicks off on 11 June at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the final on 19 July at MetLife Stadium.
