Get the complete guide to the 2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs, which features a new six-team tournament to decide the final two spots for the expanded 48-team competition.
According to a report from FotMob, the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs are now scheduled, outlining key dates, format, and the participating teams.
In Europe, 16 nations will compete in four separate “paths,” with semi-final matches set for March 26, 2026, followed by the finals on March 31, 2026. The winners of each path will earn one of the remaining four places for UEFA at the World Cup.
The 16 European teams include the 12 runners-up from World Cup qualifying groups plus four high-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners who didn’t finish in the top two of their qualifying group.
Those teams will be divided into four pots according to their FIFA rankings and Nations League performance. Pot 1 contains the highest-ranked sides, while Pot 4 comprises the Nations League group winners.
In addition to the UEFA playoffs, the report also notes the African (CAF) mini-playoff tournament to decide the continent’s final spot.
Four teams — Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — will contest a knockout format from November 13 to November 16, 2025, with semi-finals and a final held in Rabat, Morocco.
The winner of this mini-tournament will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs in March.
These playoff matches will be crucial, as they represent the final opportunity for these nations to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.