The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup kicks off on June 11 when co-hosts Mexico play South Africa in Mexico City, however six qualification locations are nonetheless up for grabs in the European and intercontinental playoffs.
The final certified groups will be confirmed Tuesday with 4 European nations and the winners of the two intercontinental playoff finals sealing their spot in the Canada, Mexico and the United States this summer season.
Kosovo will host Türkiye trying to succeed in their first World Cup, and four-time world champions Italy should win at Bosnia and Herzegovina to keep away from lacking out on the finals for the third successive event.
Iraq (1986), Congo DR (as Zaire in 1974), Bolivia (1994) and Türkiye (2002) are all trying to finish prolonged absences from the World Cup, however who will be victorious in the six qualification finals?
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EUROPE
PATH A
Winner enters World Cup Group B (Canada, Qatar, Switzerland)
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy (Zenica, Bosnia): Edin Dzeko‘s 86th-minute aim in opposition to Wales in Cardiff was the lifeline Bosnia wanted to remain in the semifinal and take the sport to penalties, which ended with a 4-2 shootout win for Sergej Barbarez’s crew. At 40 years outdated, former Manchester City, AS Roma and Inter Milan striker Dzeko will turn into considered one of the oldest outfield gamers to look at a World Cup if he can encourage Bosnia once more in the final, however Italy will go into the sport as robust favorites.
Gennaro Gattuso’s crew overcame a nervous begin to beat Northern Ireland 2-0 on Bergamo in Thursday’s semifinal and that victory has boosted morale in Italy following playoff heartbreak in 2018 and 2022. Bosnia have house benefit in Zenica at the hostile Stadium Bilino Polje, however Italy have the pedigree of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali and Manuel Locatelli, in order that they will haven’t any excuses for an additional playoff failure.
Winners: Italy
1:34
Laurens: Italy face harder take a look at in opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Julien Laurens breaks down Bosnia and Herzegovina’s dramatic penalty win over Wales forward of their World Cup showdown with Italy.
PATH B
Winner enters World Cup Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia)
Sweden vs. Poland (Stockholm, Sweden): Viktor Gyökeres virtually single-handedly sealed Sweden’s place in the final with a hat trick in Thursday’s 3-1 semifinal win in opposition to Ukraine in Valencia. Sweden, now coached by former Chelsea and West Ham United boss Graham Potter, critically underperformed throughout the qualifiers witha winless group marketing campaign, however they now have a house sport in opposition to Poland to guide a spot at the World Cup.
The Poles needed to combat again from going a aim down in opposition to Albania in Warsaw earlier than successful 2-1 with targets from Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski they usually go into the Sweden sport having run Netherlands shut of their qualifying group. Recent kind means that Poland will be favorites, however Sweden are at house and the confidence of an enormous win in opposition to Ukraine. It will be shut, however Sweden will shade it — possibly even on penalties.
Winners: Sweden
PATH C
Winner enters World Cup Group D (United States, Paraguay, Australia)
Kosovo vs. Türkiye (Pristina, Kosovo): Though Türkiye’s semifinal in opposition to Romania went as anticipated with Vincenzo Montella’s crew successful 1-0 by means of Ferdi Kadioglu‘s aim, Kosovo upset the odds with a 4-3 win away to Slovakia. Kosovo went into the playoffs as the lowest-ranked European nation nonetheless alive in the competitors, sitting in 78th place between Israel and Oman in the FIFA World Ranking, however they dominated in Bratislava to seal a deserved victory.
Franco Foda’s crew is younger, daring and stuffed with tempo and power, they usually have the means to shock a Türkiye crew stacked with prime expertise together with Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz. Türkiye have gained the two earlier conferences between the groups and will be favorites, however Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri will be rocking in Pristina on Tuesday, and a passionate ambiance might tip the steadiness in Kosovo’s favor.
Winners: Kosovo
PATH D
Winner enters World Cup Group A (Mexico, South Korea, South Africa)
Czechia vs. Denmark (Prague, Czechia): Czechia seemed lifeless and buried in opposition to the Republic of Ireland after discovering themselves 2-0 down in Prague after 23 minutes, however Miroslav Koubek’s crew fought again to take the sport to penalties earlier than successful 4-3 from the spot kicks.
But the Czechs will face a Denmark aspect that confirmed its high quality with a 4-0 win in opposition to North Macedonia in Copenhagen, so the Danes will be robust favorites heading into the final. The questions on Denmark don’t have anything to do with their high quality — coach Brian Riemer has Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Højlund and Christian Norgaard on his roster — however whether or not they can deal with the stress of being favorites. A draw in opposition to Belarus and defeat in opposition to Scotland noticed them blow their hopes of automated qualification, so will they really feel the warmth in opposition to the Czechs? That’s the hazard for Denmark, however maybe beating North Macedonia has proved their mettle.
Winners: Denmark
INTERCONTINENTAL PLAYOFFS
PATHWAY 1
Winner enters World Cup Group Ok (Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia)
Congo DR vs. Jamaica (Zapopan, Mexico): Jamaica toiled to a 1-0 win in opposition to rank outsiders New Caledonia in the semifinal, in order that they will need to step up a number of ranges to have any hope of beating Congo DR.
Congo, nicknamed the “Warriors of the Equator,” have top-level European expertise of their squad with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United), Arthur Masuaku (Lens), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United) and captain Chancel Mbemba (Lille), so they need to be too robust for a Jamaica aspect led by interim coach Rudolph Speid. Wrexham’s Bailey Cadamarteri scored the match winner for Jamaica in opposition to New Caledonia, however repeating that effort will be robust in opposition to considered one of the strongest African groups.
Winners: Congo DR
PATHWAY 2
Winner enters World Cup Group I (France, Senegal, Norway)
Iraq vs. Bolivia (Guadalupe, Mexico): Iraq’s preparations for his or her playoff have been thrown into disarray by the ongoing battle in the Middle East, forcing coach Graham Arnold to ask FIFA for the game to postponed as a result of the difficulties of his squad being about to journey from the area. But Tuesday’s match will go forward and the Lions of Mesopotamia will have a full squad as a result of name on after being given the use of a non-public jet to journey to Mexico. Whether the disruption to their plans will have an effect on Iraq’s possibilities stays to be seen, however Bolivia’s 2-1 semifinal win over Suriname, after they overturned a 1-0 deficit to claim victory, confirmed that the South American nation is match prepared — the identical can’t be mentioned for Iraq. Having had no aggressive video games since December, Iraq may battle to win this sport and finish a 40-year look ahead to a World Cup look.
Winners: Bolivia
