The race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is reaching its decisive stage, with only six qualification spots remaining to complete the expanded 48-team tournament. While 42 nations have already secured their places, the final berths will be determined through crucial playoff clashes taking place today across European and intercontinental routes.
In the European playoffs, four spots are still available, with eight teams battling it out in knockout finals. These teams emerged from an initial pool of 16, which included group runners-up and Nations League qualifiers. Now, everything comes down to single-match deciders where only the winners advance and the losers are eliminated.
One of the biggest storylines is Italy’s situation. The four-time world champions are at serious risk of missing a third consecutive World Cup if they fail to overcome Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, Kosovo are aiming to create history by qualifying for their first-ever World Cup, but they face a tough challenge against Türkiye.
Other key encounters include Sweden taking on Poland and Czechia facing Denmark, with all matches expected to be tightly contested given the high stakes and no second chances.
The European playoff finals fixtures include Bosnia and Herzegovina versus Italy in Zenica Sweden versus Poland in Solna Kosovo versus Türkiye in Pristina and Czechia versus Denmark in Prague.
Beyond Europe, the final two spots will be decided through the intercontinental playoffs featuring teams from multiple confederations. In this format, the top-ranked sides Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq received direct entry into the final stage.
DR Congo will go up against Jamaica in Guadalajara, while Iraq will face Bolivia in Monterrey. These matches will take place in Mexico, one of the host nations of the 2026 tournament. The winners of these encounters will secure the last two tickets to the World Cup.
This playoff structure highlights the intensity of the qualification process, especially with the expanded tournament format hosted by the United States Canada and Mexico. While more teams now have a chance to qualify, the competition remains fierce, ensuring dramatic and unpredictable outcomes until the very end.
