2026 World Cup play-offs: who will grab the last tickets?

Meanwhile, the Red Devils have qualified for the 2026 World Cup in North America. But for several countries, it is still uncertain whether they will be able to participate in the World Cup. They must first play play-offs.

What are the play-offs?

World Cup play-offs are the last chance for countries that did not qualify directly during the regular qualifying groups. In this phase, the very last tickets for the 2026 World Cup are distributed via an exciting knockout format.

There are two types of play-offs, both of which will be decided later this month (March 2026):

• 1. European play-offs, organised by UEFA
• 2. Intercontinental play-offs, organised by FIFA

European play-offs

There are still four tickets up for grabs in Europe. No fewer than 16 countries are competing for a place.

• Who is participating? The 12 runners-up from the qualifying groups, supplemented by the four best group winners from the Nations League who had not yet qualified.
• What is the format? The countries are divided into four paths (A, B, C and D). Four countries play a mini-tournament per path:
• Semi-finals on 26 March: One match (no home and away).
• Final on 31 March: The two winners of the semi-finals play each other.
• The winner of the final in each path goes to the World Cup.

Intercontinental play-offs

The intercontinental play-offs are a mini-tournament in Mexico where six countries from different continents compete for the last two tickets.

• Who is participating? One country per continent (except Europe), plus an additional country from CONCACAF. For 2026, these are Bolivia, Suriname, Jamaica, DR Congo, Iraq and New Caledonia.
• What is the format? The two highest-ranked countries in the FIFA rankings (Iraq and DR Congo) go straight to the final of their path. The other four countries first play a semi-final. The two eventual winners take the 47th and 48th places at the World Cup.

Our predictions

Expectations for the play-offs are high. Because the format involves only one match per round, there is no margin for error.

Here is an overview of our predictions for the European play-offs based on the latest analyses:

• Path A (Italy): The pressure on Italy is enormous after missing out on the last two World Cups. They are expected to beat Northern Ireland at home, but a final against Wales (in Cardiff) will be a real challenge. However, the bookmakers see Italy as the slight favourite for this ticket.
• Path B (Ukraine vs. Sweden): This is considered the most evenly matched path. Sweden has a strong squad with players such as Isak and Gyökeres, but Ukraine has proven to be extremely resilient in big games in recent years.
• Path C (Turkey): Turkey is expected to benefit from their strong generation and home advantage against Romania. They are tipped to win the final against the winner of Slovakia-Kosovo.
• Path D (Denmark): Denmark is the big favourite in this path. Although they have to go through the play-offs after a defeat against Scotland, their experience in major tournaments is expected to be the deciding factor against North Macedonia and (probably) the Czech Republic.

Did you know? If Italy fails to qualify, it would be the first time in history that the four-time world champions have missed three consecutive World Cups.

The intercontinental play-offs are a different story.

Because Iraq and DR Congo do not have to play semi-finals on their way, they are the top favourites. DR Congo is considered physically stronger than Jamaica or New Caledonia. For Iraq, however, there is uncertainty. There are recent reports that their participation may be jeopardised by logistical or political problems in the Middle East. That could offer opportunities for Bolivia or Suriname.

There is a lot of hope for Suriname, too. If they beat Bolivia, they will face Iraq in the final for their first ever World Cup ticket.

What are your expectations for the World Cup play-offs?

Do you disagree with our predictions and have a different idea about how the last World Cup tickets will be distributed? Then you can turn your football knowledge into nice winnings by placing a bet at Magic Betting Sports. Create an account now and take advantage of the competitive odds.