We finally know which UEFA nations will be competing in the play-offs for a place at the FIFA World Cup in 2026 following the conclusion of the group campaign.
Wales, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are among the 16 teams to have reached the mini tournament, which will take place in March.
The 12 group runners-up are joined by the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League section winners that have not already qualified.
They will all be duking it out for the last four European spots. The play-offs consist of a semi-final and a final, with each round being a single leg.
Every team will be split into four pots, and the sides in pots one and two are seeded and will play their semi-finals at home. The four teams in Pot One will be drawn against the teams in Pot Four, while those in Pot Two will be drawn against Pot Three nations.
Which UEFA nations are in the FIFA World Cup play-offs?
Note: These pots are based on the current FIFA World Rankings and may change after the rankings are updated on Wednesday.
Pot 1: Denmark, Italy, Türkiye, Slovakia
Pot 2: Czechia, Poland, Ukraine, Wales
Pot 3: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Republic of Ireland
Pot 4: North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Romania, Sweden
Read – Scotland seal World Cup berth, Wales heading to play-offs
When is the draw for the play-offs?
The draw for the World Cup play-off is on Thursday, 20th November at 12pm at FIFA headquarters in Switzerland.
When do the play-offs take place?
The semi-finals will be played on Thursday, 26th March, and the finals will be held on Tuesday, 31st March in 2026.
When is the draw for the FIFA World Cup?
The draw for the World Cup proper will take place before the play-offs, on 5th December.
Read – Five of the greatest footballers who never played in a World Cup
See Also – When are the World Cup qualifying play-offs?
