2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round

The UEFA second round of the qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also known as the UEFA play-offs or European play-offs, will be contested by sixteen teams from the UEFA segment of qualifying. The play-offs will determine the final four European teams that will join the twelve group winners at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The twelve runners-up from the UEFA first round groups will participate in the play-offs, along with four teams based on the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking. The teams were divided into four paths, each containing four teams, with each play-off path featuring two single-leg semi-finals and one single-leg final. The twelve matches will take place on 26 and 31 March 2026.

Format

The play-off format was confirmed by the UEFA Executive Committee during their meeting in Nyon, Switzerland, on 28 June 2023.[1] The play-offs participants depended, in part, on results from the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League, although to a lesser degree than play-offs of the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying tournament.[2][3]

The twelve runners-up from the first round (group stage) were joined by four Nations League group winners that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group, based on the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking. The sixteen teams were split into four play-off paths, each containing four teams. Each play-off path will feature two single-leg semi-finals on 26 March, and one single-leg final on 31 March 2026. In the semi-finals, the fixtures of each path were drawn after the first round concluded using four seeding pots, with the Pot 1 team hosting the Pot 4 team and the Pot 2 team hosting the Pot 3 team. The host of each path final was decided by a draw between the two semi-final pairings. The winner of the four path finals will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.[4]

The play-offs will be played in single-leg knockout matches. If scores are level at the end of normal time, 30 minutes of extra time is played, where each team is allowed to make a sixth substitution. If the scores remain tied, a penalty shoot-out is used to determine the winner.[5]

Qualified teams

Sixteen teams advanced to the play-offs. The participants were not decided solely on the results of the first round, with four of the spots allocated to group winners of the 2024–25 edition of the UEFA Nations League.

Second-placed teams (all twelve advance)

The twelve runners-up from the first round (group stage) advanced to the play-offs.

Group Runners-up
A  Slovakia
B  Kosovo
C  Denmark
D  Ukraine
E  Turkey
F  Republic of Ireland
G  Poland
H  Bosnia and Herzegovina
I  Italy
J  Wales
K  Albania
L  Czech Republic

Nations League teams (four advance)

Based on the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking,[6] the four best-ranked Nations League group winners that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group advanced to the play-offs. If fewer than four Nations League group winners had been selected, the remaining spot(s) would have been allocated to the best-ranked remaining team(s) in the Nations League interim overall ranking that finished outside the top two of their qualifying group.[4]

At the start of qualifying, the teams in the table below were potentially able to receive a play-off spot in the order given:[note 1]

UNL Rank Team Qualifying
group
Nations League group winners
A 1  Spain & E
2  Germany & A
3  Portugal & F
4  France & D
B 17  England & K
18  Norway & I
19  Wales † J
20  Czech Republic † L
C 33  Romania ‡ H
34  Sweden ‡ B
35  North Macedonia ‡ J
36  Northern Ireland ‡ A
D 49  Moldova I
50  San Marino H
Nations League remaining teams
A 5  Italy † I
6  Netherlands & G
7  Denmark † C
8  Croatia & L
9  Scotland & C
10  Serbia K
11  Hungary F
12  Belgium & J
13  Poland † G
14  Israel I
15   Switzerland & B
16  Bosnia and Herzegovina † H

Key

  •  &  Team qualified directly for World Cup as qualifying group winner
  •  †  Team advanced to the play-offs as qualifying group runner-up
  •  ‡  Team (in bold) advanced to the play-offs as one of the best four Nations League group winners outside top two of their qualifying group

Draw

The draw to determine the four play-off paths was held on 20 November 2025, 13:00 CET, at the FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.[7][8][9] The sixteen teams advancing from the first round were divided into four pots of four teams each. The twelve group runners-up were allocated to Pots 1 to 3 (seeded based on the FIFA Men's World Ranking of November 2025), while the four teams advancing via the Nations League were automatically placed into Pot 4.[4]

The draw was presented by Melanie Winiger and conducted by Manolo Zubiria, the 2026 tournament's U.S. chief officer. Former players Marco Materazzi and Martin Dahlin acted as assistants in the draw.[10]

Procedure

The play-off paths are structured as follows:[4][11]

  • Play-off Path A is formed by semi-finals 1 and 2, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final A.
  • Play-off Path B is formed by semi-finals 3 and 4, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final B.
  • Play-off Path C is formed by semi-finals 5 and 6, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final C.
  • Play-off Path D is formed by semi-finals 7 and 8, with the winners of both semi-finals advancing to final D.

The draw for the semi-final started with Pot 1 and completed with Pot 4. Teams were drawn and assigned to the first available play-off semi-final in numerical order, as follows:

  • The Pot 1 teams (seeded) were allocated to semi-finals 1, 3, 5 and 7 as the host team.
  • The Pot 2 teams (seeded) were allocated to semi-finals 2, 4, 6 and 8 as the host team.
  • The Pot 3 teams (unseeded) were allocated to semi-finals 2, 4, 6 and 8 as the away team.
  • The Pot 4 teams (unseeded) were allocated to semi-finals 1, 3, 5 and 7 as the away team.

The draw for the final hosts took place immediately afterwards, with finals A, B, C and D each having one of their semi-finalists selected as the host team.

No restrictions applied in the draw, as none of the clashes that were prohibited by UEFA for political reasons could occur.[note 2]

Seeding

The seeding pots for the semi-final draw were as follows.[11] The FIFA Men's World Rankings of 19 November 2025 are shown below in brackets,[12] with the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking appended for Pot 4 teams.

Semi-final seeding pots
Seeded Unseeded
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 (UNL)
  1.  Italy (12)
  2.  Denmark (21)
  3.  Turkey (25)
  4.  Ukraine (28)
  1.  Poland (31)
  2.  Wales (32)
  3.  Czech Republic (44)
  4.  Slovakia (45)
  1.  Sweden (43; NL–34)
  2.  Romania (47; NL–33)
  3.  North Macedonia (65; NL–35)
  4.  Northern Ireland (69; NL–36)

Schedule

The semi-finals will take place on 26 March and the final matches on 31 March 2026.[13] The kick-off times were confirmed on 20 November 2025 following the draw.[14][15] The semi-final and potential final hosts must confirm their venues no later than 19 December 2025.[16] As part of UEFA's scheduling, the losing semi-finalists of each path will play a friendly match against each other on the day of the play-off finals.[11]

Times are CET/CEST,[note 3] as listed by UEFA (local times, if different, are in parentheses).

Path A

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
26 March 2026 – Cardiff
 
 
 Wales
 
31 March 2026 – Cardiff or Zenica
 
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
 
Winner semi-final 2
 
26 March 2026 – Bergamo
 
Winner semi-final 1
 
 Italy
 
 
 Northern Ireland
 

Summary

Home teamScoreAway team
Semi-finals
Italy 26 Mar (SF1) Northern Ireland
Wales 26 Mar (SF2) Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final
Winner semi-final 231 MarWinner semi-final 1

Semi-finals

Wales Semi-final 2 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Final

Winner semi-final 2Final AWinner semi-final 1
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Path B

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
26 March 2026 – Valencia
 
 
 Ukraine
 
31 March 2026 – Valencia or Solna
 
 Sweden
 
Winner semi-final 3
 
26 March 2026 – Warsaw
 
Winner semi-final 4
 
 Poland
 
 
 Albania
 

Summary

Home teamScoreAway team
Semi-finals
Ukraine 26 Mar (SF3) Sweden
Poland 26 Mar (SF4) Albania
Final
Winner semi-final 331 MarWinner semi-final 4

Semi-finals

Ukraine Semi-final 3 Sweden
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Poland Semi-final 4 Albania
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Final

Winner semi-final 3Final BWinner semi-final 4
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Path C

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
26 March 2026 – Bratislava
 
 
 Slovakia
 
31 March 2026 – Bratislava or Pristina
 
 Kosovo
 
Winner semi-final 6
 
26 March 2026 – Istanbul
 
Winner semi-final 5
 
 Turkey
 
 
 Romania
 

Summary

Home teamScoreAway team
Semi-finals
Turkey 26 Mar (SF5) Romania
Slovakia 26 Mar (SF6) Kosovo
Final
Winner semi-final 631 MarWinner semi-final 5

Semi-finals

Turkey Semi-final 5 Romania
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Slovakia Semi-final 6 Kosovo
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Final

Winner semi-final 6Final CWinner semi-final 5
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Path D

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
26 March 2026 – Prague
 
 
 Czech Republic
 
31 March 2026 – Prague[26] or Dublin
 
 Republic of Ireland
 
Winner semi-final 8
 
26 March 2026 – Copenhagen
 
Winner semi-final 7
 
 Denmark
 
 
 North Macedonia
 

Summary

Home teamScoreAway team
Semi-finals
Denmark 26 Mar (SF7) North Macedonia
Czech Republic 26 Mar (SF8) Republic of Ireland
Final
Winner semi-final 831 MarWinner semi-final 7

Semi-finals

Denmark Semi-final 7 North Macedonia
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)
Czech Republic Semi-final 8 Republic of Ireland
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Final

Winner semi-final 8Final DWinner semi-final 7
Report (FIFA)
Report (UEFA)

Discipline

A player is automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:[5]

  • Receiving a red card (red card suspensions may be extended for serious offences)
  • Receiving two yellow cards in two different qualifying group stage matches (yellow card suspensions are carried forward to the play-off semi-finals, but not the play-off finals, World Cup final tournament, or any other future international matches)

Yellow cards received during the qualifying group stage will expire prior to the UEFA play-offs, thus preventing suspensions in the play-off finals due to yellow cards received in the semi-finals. However, yellow card suspensions accumulated at the end of the qualifying group stage will still be carried forward to the play-off semi-finals.[4]

The following suspensions will be served during the second round qualifying matches:

Team Player Offence(s) Suspended for match(es)
 Denmark Joachim Andersen Yellow card vs Scotland (5 September 2025)
Yellow card vs Scotland (18 November 2025)		 vs North Macedonia (26 March 2026)
Rasmus Kristensen Yellow card Yellow-red card vs Scotland (18 November 2025) vs North Macedonia (26 March 2026)
 North Macedonia Tihomir Kostadinov Yellow card vs Belgium (10 October 2025)
Yellow card vs Wales (18 November 2025)		 vs Denmark (26 March 2026)
 Poland Nicola Zalewski Yellow card vs Finland (10 June 2025)
Yellow card vs Malta (17 November 2025)		 vs Albania (26 March 2026)
 Republic of Ireland Festy Ebosele Yellow card vs Portugal (11 October 2025)
Yellow card vs Hungary (16 November 2025)		 vs Czech Republic (26 March 2026)
Liam Scales Yellow card vs Portugal (13 November 2025)
Yellow card vs Hungary (16 November 2025)		 vs Czech Republic (26 March 2026)
 Ukraine Yukhym Konoplya Yellow card vs Iceland (10 October 2025)
Yellow card vs Iceland (16 November 2025)		 vs Sweden (26 March 2026)
Ruslan Malinovskyi Yellow card vs Azerbaijan (13 October 2025)
Yellow card vs Iceland (16 November 2025)		 vs Sweden (26 March 2026)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The table lists teams down to the lowest-ranked team that could have potentially received a play-off spot (the team ranked 16th in League A) based on the distribution of teams to qualifying groups. Ultimately, the last spot only reached down to the lowest-ranked League C group winner.
  2. ^ The Kosovo–Bosnia and Herzegovina prohibited clash was not possible due to both teams being in the same pot. Armenia–Azerbaijan, Belarus–Ukraine, Gibraltar–Spain and Kosovo–Serbia were also prohibited match-ups, but among those teams only Ukraine and Kosovo advanced to the play-offs.
  3. ^ CET (UTC+1) for the semi-finals (26 March), and CEST (UTC+2) for the finals (31 March 2026).
  4. ^ a b Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine are required to play their home matches at neutral venues until further notice.[19]

References

  1. ^ "Lisbon to host UEFA Women's Champions League final in 2025". UEFA. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Road to the FIFA World Cup 26 has begun". FIFA. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. ^ "CONMEBOL kick off journey of "great joy and happiness" to historic FIFA World Cup 2026, says FIFA President". FIFA. 7 September 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "UEFA Preliminary Competition for the FIFA World Cup 26 – Additional Competition Information" (PDF). FIFA. September 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Regulations: FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition" (PDF). FIFA. June 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Interim overall rankings of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25" (PDF). UEFA. 23 March 2025.
  7. ^ "FIFA headquarters to host FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and European Play-Off draws". FIFA. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  8. ^ "European play-off draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". UEFA. 18 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  9. ^ "European nations learn play-off opponents". FIFA. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  10. ^ "FIFA Legends Karembeu, Materazzi and Dahlin named as assistants for FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and European play-off draws". FIFA. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  11. ^ a b c "Draw Procedures for the European Play-Off Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26" (PDF). FIFA. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  12. ^ "FIFA Men's World Ranking: 19 November 2025". FIFA. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  13. ^ "Regulations of the UEFA Nations League, 2024/25" (PDF). UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 11 December 2023. Annex A – 2024–26 National Team Match Calendar. Archived from the original on 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
  14. ^ "World Cup 2026: European play-off draw". UEFA. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  15. ^ "European Qualifiers 2022–24 – Play-offs – Fixture List" (PDF). UEFA. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  16. ^ "European Qualifiers 2024–26 – Information on competition start" (ZIP). UEFA Circular Letter. No. 2/2025. Union of European Football Associations. 6 January 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
  17. ^ "Bergamo to host NI's World Cup play-off with Italy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Opponents confirmed for 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs". Football Association of Wales. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Decisions from today's extraordinary UEFA Executive Committee meeting". UEFA. Union of European Football Associations. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  20. ^ a b "Ukraine national team to play decisive 2026 World Cup play-off matches in Spain". Ukrainian National News. Ukrainian National News. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Mecz Polska – Albania na PGE Narodowym w Warszawie" [Poland vs. Albania match at the PGE National Stadium in Warsaw] (in Polish). Polish Football Association. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  22. ^ "Sverige mot krigshärjat Ukraina i VM-playoff" [Sweden against war-torn Ukraine in World Cup play-off]. Aftonbladet (in Swedish). 20 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  23. ^ "Răsturnare de situație! Turcii au anunțat unde se va juca meciul cu România" [Turnaround! The Turks have announced where the match against Romania will be played] (in Romanian). DIGISport. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  24. ^ "MUŽI A – Baráž o MS 2026 proti Kosovu v Bratislave" [MEN A – Play-off for the 2026 World Cup against Kosovo in Bratislava] (in Slovak). Slovak Football Association. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  25. ^ "Kosova mëson kundërshtarin e "Play-Off"-it për Kupën e Botës 2026" [Kosovo learns its opponent in the 2026 World Cup play-off] (in Albanian). Football Federation of Kosovo. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  26. ^ a b "Národní tým čekají klíčové zápasy baráže v Edenu a na Letné". fotbal.cz (in Czech). 19 December 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  27. ^ "Danmark møder Nordmakedonien i VM-playoff" [Denmark meets North Macedonia in the World Cup play-off]. Berlingske (in Danish). Ritzau. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Belief the key for Heimir Hallgrimsson as World Cup play-off path laid out". RTÉ Sport. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_second_round