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• Final playoff teams secure 2026 FIFA World Cup spots

  The 2026 FIFA World Cup field is finalized following dramatic playoff wins by DR Congo, Iraq, and four UEFA nations, setting the stage for the 48-team tournament across North America this June.

  ​The 48-team field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is complete after a thrilling final night of playoffs.

  In the inter-confederation brackets, Axel Tuanzebe’s 100th-minute strike lifted DR Congo over Jamaica, securing their first appearance since 1974.

  Meanwhile, Iraq defeated Bolivia 2-1 in Monterrey to end a 40-year drought, joining France, Norway, and Senegal in a highly competitive Group I.  

  ​UEFA’s final slots were claimed by Türkiye, Czechia, Sweden, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, who famously eliminated Italy on penalties.

  The result marks a third consecutive missed tournament for the Italians.

  For the hosts, the path is now clear: Mexico kicks off the tournament June 11 against South Africa, while the USMNT prepares for a Group D finale against Türkiye on June 25.  

  ​Preparation now shifts to 16 host cities as the expanded 104-match schedule looms.

  Captain Chancel Mbemba remains grounded following DR Congo’s historic qualification, stating, “We’ll stay humble, keep our feet on the ground, and continue to work.”

  With global giants like Brazil and Argentina facing hungry newcomers, the largest World Cup in history promises a “different feel and vibe” across three nations.  

• Kerem Aktürkoğlu strike to end Türkiye’s 24-year World Cup wait in Kosovo win

  Türkiye secured their first World Cup appearance since 2002 by defeating Kosovo 1-0 in a playoff final, earning a spot in Group D alongside co-hosts the United States.

  ​Türkiye qualified for the 2026 World Cup following a narrow 1-0 victory over Kosovo in Tuesday’s European playoff final.

  Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored the decisive goal early in the second half in Prishtina, ending a 24-year drought for the Turkish national team.

  The result denied Kosovo a historic first appearance at a major tournament while sparking celebrations for the visitors, who previously finished third in 2002.

  ​The victory places Türkiye in Group D alongside the United States, Australia, and Paraguay.

  Their campaign begins in Vancouver against Australia before they move to California to face Paraguay and finally the U.S. at SoFi Stadium.

  Türkiye and the U.S. have a balanced head-to-head record, though Türkiye claimed a win in their most recent friendly encounter held in Connecticut last June.

• PNE duo suffer World Cup heartbreak in play-off exits

  Preston North End stars Robbie Brady and Ali McCann saw their 2026 World Cup dreams vanish on Thursday night as both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland suffered narrow play-off semi-final defeats.

  ​Robbie Brady appeared as a second-half substitute in Prague, where the Republic of Ireland surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 before losing 4-3 on penalties to the Czech Republic.

  Former North End captain Alan Browne was among those to miss from the spot.

  Reflecting on the agonizing exit, Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson summarized the mood in one word: “Just pain. I feel pain.”

  ​Meanwhile, Ali McCann missed Northern Ireland’s 2-0 defeat to Italy in Bergamo due to injury.

  Despite the loss to the four-time world champions, manager Michael O’Neill praised his side’s resilience against second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.

  O’Neill remained defiant in defeat, stating, “I couldn’t ask any more from the players. Our game plan in the first half is excellent.”

• 2026-27 Nations League draw revealed as England, Wales discover daunting League A opponents

  England have been placed in a challenging 2026-27 Nations League group alongside Spain, Croatia, and Czechia, marking Thomas Tuchel’s first major tournament cycle since extending his contract.

  ​England’s return to the top tier of the Nations League will feature a high-stakes reunion with Spain, the team that denied them glory in the Euro 2024 final.

  Following their promotion under Lee Carsley, the Three Lions were placed in League A Group 3, where they will also contend with recurring rivals Croatia and a resilient Czechia side.

  This daunting draw coincides with the confirmation that Thomas Tuchel has extended his managerial deal until 2028, ensuring he will lead the squad through this competitive cycle following the 2026 World Cup.

  ​The tournament structure also presents a difficult task for Wales, who must navigate a group containing title-holders Portugal, Norway, and Denmark.

  Meanwhile, Scotland will face Switzerland and Slovenia in League B, while Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland prepare for tests against Hungary and Austria respectively.

  Fixtures are scheduled to commence in late September 2026, utilizing a revised international window format.

  Regarding the challenging path ahead, FA sources indicated that the schedule provides “belated revenge” opportunities as England seeks to re-establish dominance among Europe’s elite.

• World Cup 2026: The giants and minnows in each group

  The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw established 12 groups for the record 48-team tournament hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, highlighting debuts for minnows like Curaçao and confirming defending champions Argentina’s path in Group J.

  The groups for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have been finalized following the draw ceremony held at the Kennedy Centre in Washington on Friday, according to a report from Malta Today.

  The expanded tournament will feature a record 48 teams competing in 104 games across 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, beginning in Mexico City on June 11 and concluding with the final in New York, New Jersey on July 19.

  The draw placed 42 already-qualified teams into 12 groups, reserving slots for the six remaining teams to be decided in the March play-offs.

  The field will include several World Cup debutants, most notably Cape Verde, Jordan, Uzbekistan, and Curaçao, with the Caribbean island nation of Curaçao becoming the smallest country by population size to ever qualify.

  All 11 of the world’s top-ranked teams have secured their places, but major footballing nation Italy is among the 22 countries left to compete in the play-offs for the final six berths, including four from the UEFA play-offs.

  The groups pit giants against minnows in several intriguing matchups. Group C features Brazil alongside Morocco, Scotland, and Haiti, while Group E sees Germany matched with Ivory Coast, Ecuador, and Curaçao. Group H includes Spain, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay, and Cape Verde.

  Defending champions Argentina, led by captain Lionel Messi, were drawn into Group J alongside Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

  Messi is seeking to guide his nation to become the first team to win consecutive tournaments since Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962.

  Messi, who already holds the record for 26 World Cup games played, is also just three goals shy of Miroslav Klose’s career World Cup goals record.

  Host nation USA is set to compete in Group D against Paraguay and Australia.

  Attendance across the 16 venues is projected to exceed the record 3.59 million set when the US last hosted the tournament in 1994.