The final spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided during the March international window, determining which six nations complete this summer's 48-team field.
The remaining berths are determined via the Inter-Confederation Playoffs (two spots) and UEFA Playoffs (four spots). Semifinals will be played on March 26, followed by the finals on March 31.
Inter-Confederation Playoffs
Pathway A
Path A will be one that Union fans will pay the most attention to as it features the Reggae Boyz and Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake as he looks to guide Jamaica to the FIFA World Cup for just the second time in its history.
Blake, who captains the squad, has made 92 appearances for Jamaica, recording 34 clean sheets, including conceding just three goals in the final round of qualifying.
Jamaica will face New Caledonia on Thursday, March 26 at 11:00 p.m. ET.
Should Jamaica win, they'd quickly return to the pitch for the final playoff match, taking on African side DR Congo on Tuesday, March 31st. Kick off from Mexico is set for 5PM ET with fans able to watch on FS1.
The winner from Pathway A will join Group K in the 2026 World Cup with matches against Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Pathway B
Pathway B will follow the same set up, this time at the home of CF Monterrey. The semifinal on March 26 features Bolivia vs. Suriname with the winner then facing off against Iraq on March 31st for the opportunity to be slotted into Group I.
European Playoffs
Format
Sixteen (16) teams that advanced past the first round of European (UEFA) qualifying were drawn, via seeding pots, into four groups of four.
Each group features two single-leg semifinals, with the semifinal winners advancing to a single-leg final. The winners of each of the four UEFA playoff pathways advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Pathway A
Semifinals
- March 26: Wales vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina
- March 26: Italy vs. Northern Ireland
Final
- March 31: Wales vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina winner HOSTS Italy vs. Northern Ireland winner
Winner joins Group B at the World Cup alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Pathway B
Semifinals
- March 26: Ukraine vs. Sweden
- March 26: Poland vs. Albania
Final
- March 31: Ukraine vs. Sweden winner HOSTS Poland vs. Albania winner
Winner joins Group F at the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
Pathway C
Semifinals
- March 26: Slovakia vs. Kosovo
- March 26: Türkiye vs. Romania
Final
- March 31: Slovakia vs. Kosovo winner HOSTS Türkiye vs. Romania winner
Winner joins Group D at the World Cup alongside the United States, Australia and Paraguay.
Pathway D
Semifinals
- March 26: Czechia vs. Ireland
- March 26: Denmark vs. North Macedonia
Final
- March 31: Czechia vs. Ireland winner HOSTS Denmark vs. North Macedonia winner
Winner joins Group A at the World Cup alongside Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
