World Cup
2026 World
Cup Countdown
live
Updated 4h ago
The paths for the teams in the 2026 World Cup play-offs have been laid out after today's draws.
The inter-confederation draw has plotted Jamaica against New Caledonia and Bolivia against Suriname — with DR Congo and Iraq waiting in the two finals.
The European play-off draw is illustrated above.
Northern Ireland and Wales have been drawn in the same path as Italy, while Republic of Ireland will face Czech Republic before a potential home final against Denmark.
Email us your thoughts: live@theathletic.com
GO FURTHER
World Cup 2026 play-off draw: Italy vs Northern Ireland, Jamaica learn path to finals
It lasted less than hour, but they were two particularly significant draws.
22 nations had their names pulled out of a pot and only six of them will play at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
But who were the winners and losers from the draws? There's a reason Gianluigi Buffon was smiling throughout…
The Athletic's James Horncastle, Nick Miller, Tim Spiers and Jack Lang were on hand to deliver their quickfire analysis — make sure to check it out below.
GO FURTHER
World Cup play-off draw analysis: Will Italy and other European hopefuls be happy with their path?
No more international football for the rest of 2025 means there is just one order of business left before the end of the year.
The order of business, however, is a particularly significant one.
The 2026 World Cup group stage draw takes place at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on Friday, December 5. To save you doing the maths, that's just 15 days away.
All 22 teams that found out their play-off paths today will be involved, as will the 42 nations that have already booked their place at next summer's tournament.
GO FURTHER
World Cup draw: What are the possible groups? Which teams are in which pots? How tough can they be?
All eight European semi-finals will be played on Thursday, March 26 and the four finals will take place five days later on Tuesday, March 31.
The dates have not yet been set for the inter-confederation draws, which will be hosted in Mexican cities Monterrey and Guadalajara.
Despite only playing at two World Cups between them (one when DR Congo were known as Zaire), that inter-confederation play-off draw looks a decent one for the two higher-ranked teams.
The biggest threat to those two making it to next summer's tournament will be Jamaica, who have a semi-final against New Caledonia before a potential final against DR Congo.
As for Iraq, they will feel very confident of beating Bolivia or Suriname in their final.
The inter-confederation draw has plotted Jamaica against New Caledonia and Bolivia against Suriname — with DR Congo and Iraq waiting in the two finals.
Here's how it looks:
Semi-finals:
Finals:
Irish fans will feel that draw could have been better, but it could have also been worse. They know, having beaten Portugal and Hungary in the last week, that they can beat anyone in these play-offs, Denmark included.
The Danes, however, have pedigree against the Republic of Ireland, should they both meet in the Path D final.
They were drawn against each other in the play-offs ahead of the 2018 World Cup.
The Irish secured an encouraging goalless draw in the first leg in Copenhagen but then were hammered 5-1 in Dublin three days later.
It will be just one leg this time around, of course.
Here are the potential European play-off finals, and where they will be hosted.
The Republic of Ireland will consider themselves luckier than their neighbours in Northern Ireland.
They play Czech Republic for the first time since the 2008 European Championship qualifiers, a side only three places above Hungary — beaten by the Irish on Sunday — in the world rankings.
And a potential final, against Denmark (conquered by Scotland on Tuesday) or North Macedonia, would be in front of a home crowd as well.
Another Home Nations outfit in Wales will be more pleased.
They face two home games. First against a so-so Bosnia & Herzegovina side, albeit one which won five if their eight games in qualifying, and then — if they get there — a final on home soil.
Italy (or a Northern Ireland side which beat Italy) would be a tough test, though.
Yes, they play a weaker and more out-of-form Italy than one might expect given the talent in their ranks.
But it's still a very tough draw for Michael O'Neill's side.
Away, probably in Bergamo, and then away again, against the winners of Wales and Bosnia & Herzegovina.
So, here is the full European draw after that surprisingly quick ceremony in Zurich:
Path 1
Path 2
Path 3
Path 4
Italy were more fearful of Sweden and North Macedonia than Northern Ireland.
As inexplicably bad as Sweden have been in qualifying, the prospect of Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak being in better form in March was a scary one.
The North Macedonia team is still more or less the same as the one that shocked Italy in Palermo four years ago. So Italy will take this draw.
If they overcome Northern Ireland who, lest we forget, stopped them going to the World Cup in 1958, the winner of Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Wales awaits in the play-off final.
The Republic of Ireland, who beat Portugal and Hungary in the last international break, know they will have the reward of a home play-off final if they get past Czech Republic.
There, they would play the winners between Denmark, who were beaten dramatically by Scotland to an automatic qualifying spot, and North Macedonia.
Although Turkey would play away in the play-off final if they get there, they might privately concede that this is a pretty kind draw for them.
Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo are all fairly limited.
Kosovo might be the toughest test for them.
Strikers in the class of Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Robert Lewandowski will contest the play-off semi-finals in pathway B.
And the Republic of Ireland will play the play-off final at home if they get there by beating the Czech Republic.
There, they would play the winners of Denmark vs North Macedonia.
The winner of the fifth semi-final, Turkey or Romania, faces an away final against Slovakia or Kosovo.
And over to Path D…
The winner of semi-final 3 between Ukraine and Sweden will host Poland or Albania in the final.