Four-time champion Italy is the standout name in the European playoffs as it tries to avoid missing out on a World Cup for a third consecutive time.
“We all know what we’re playing for,” said 32-year-old Italy winger Matteo Politano, who has never played in a World Cup. “For me, and for a few of the other senior players, it’s probably our last chance.”
There will be more European teams than from any other continent at the World Cup: 16.
Eight teams made it through the last round of the playoffs and will seek the final four spots in winner-take-all matches: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy, Sweden vs. Poland, Kosovo vs. Turkey, and Czech Republic vs. Denmark.
All four games will be played Tuesday.
The winner of the Turkey-Kosovo game will enter into Group D, which already has the United States, Paraguay, and Australia.
Intercontinental playoffs
There is a different format for the intercontinental playoffs, which FIFA simply calls the Playoff Tournament.
Two teams will advance from a field of six.
The initial lineup was made up of two teams from CONCACAF (Jamaica, Suriname) and one each from Asia (Iraq), Africa (Congo), South America (Bolivia), and Oceania (New Caledonia).
Congo, Jamaica, Iraq, and Bolivia made it through to the final two matches. Congo will face Jamaica and Bolivia will play Iraq.
The decisive games will be played in Guadalajara and Monterrey on Tuesday.
Who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico, United States
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia
North America, Central America and Caribbean: Curacao, Haiti, Panama
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay
Oceania: New Zealand
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
When is the 2026 World Cup?
June and July. It kicks off at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 11. The final is on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, which will be referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament.
