The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup playoff draws have been finalized, determining the final qualification spots for six teams. Sixteen European nations will compete for four UEFA berths through knockout pathways, while six countries from other confederations will vie for two spots in the Inter-Continental Playoffs.
In the European playoffs, Path 1 sees Italy facing Northern Ireland and Wales playing Bosnia-Herzegovina in the semifinals. The predicted finalists are Italy and Wales, with Wales ultimately advancing to the World Cup.
Path 2 features Ukraine against Sweden and Poland versus Albania. Sweden is predicted to emerge from this path.
Path 3 pits Turkey against Romania and Slovakia against Kosovo, with Turkey favored to advance, though Kosovo is considered a dangerous outsider. Path 4 includes Denmark against North Macedonia and Czechia against the Republic of Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland is predicted to win this path. The Inter-Continental Playoffs will involve six teams, with the two highest-ranked automatically entering the finals and the other four playing semifinals.
Jamaica is heavily favored to win its semifinal against New Caledonia and then face Congo DR, with Congo DR predicted to secure the World Cup spot. In the other inter-continental path, Iraq is seeded directly into the final, awaiting the winner of Bolivia versus Suriname.
Bolivia, despite a lower ranking, is predicted to defeat Suriname and then edge out Iraq in the final, likely due to their experience playing at altitude.
