Alongside the last international break of 2025, the group stage of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup also came to an end. A month of November that revealed the identities of the first 12 European nations to have secured their participation in the most prestigious competition in global football. However, four tickets remain to be distributed. And there are 16 playoff teams dreaming of claiming them.
Who will play in the European playoffs for the 2026 World Cup?
Among them are the 12 teams that finished second in their qualifying groups. Italy, Turkey as well as the Republic of Ireland, which secured their place after a thrilling match against Hungary, will all be taking part.
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The last four playoff spots will go to the four best group winners from the 2024–25 Nations League who did not finish in the top two places in their 2026 World Cup qualifying group. In other words, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland.
The 16 European playoff teams for the 2026 World Cup
- Slovakia
- Kosovo
- Denmark
- Ukraine
- Turkey
- Ireland
- Poland
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Italy
- Wales
- Albania
- Czech Republic
- Romania
- Sweden
- North Macedonia
- Northern Ireland
The format of the European playoffs for the 2026 World Cup
The European playoffs, which will be held next March, will use a mini-tournament format. Four sections of four teams will be established. These teams will compete in semi-finals and a final, all played as single matches. At the end of these four decisive matches, the last four European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup will be known.
It should be noted that the semi-finals will be hosted by the eight best second-placed teams in the qualifying groups, while the hosts of the four decisive matches will be decided by a draw.
