22 Teams Still in Contention for World Cup Qualification

The final stage of World Cup qualification begins on March 26. Twenty-two teams remain in contention for places at the 2026 tournament in North America.

Format and schedule

There are two routes to qualify from the play-offs. UEFA supplies four spots from four paths of four teams. The inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico provide two additional places.

European paths each contain a semi-final and a final. The inter-confederation bracket has two paths of three. DR Congo and Iraq are seeded and advance directly to their respective finals.

European play-offs

Path A: Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland

Wales face Bosnia and Herzegovina at home on March 26. Craig Bellamy is Wales’ head coach.

Bosnia captain Edin Dzeko leads his side. Dzeko has extensive international experience and plays club football in Germany.

Italy host Northern Ireland the same evening. Gennaro Gattuso manages Italy as they try to avoid a third successive World Cup absence.

Path B: Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania

Ukraine meet Sweden in Valencia on March 26. Serhiy Rebrov is Ukraine’s head coach.

Sweden are led by Graham Potter and reached this stage via the Nations League. Poland play Albania at home on March 26.

Robert Lewandowski remains Poland’s talisman. Albania seek a historic first World Cup appearance.

Path C: Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkey, Romania

Slovakia host Kosovo on March 26. Francesco Calzona manages Slovakia, who last appeared at the World Cup in 2010.

Kosovo have yet to play at a major tournament. Turkey welcome Romania the same day in another semi-final.

Vincenzo Montella leads Turkey, while Mircea Lucescu coaches Romania. Turkey’s best World Cup finish was third in 2002.

Path D: Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, North Macedonia

The Czech Republic host the Republic of Ireland on March 26. Miroslav Koubek is in charge of the Czechs.

Heimir Hallgrimsson manages the Irish, who last reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990. Denmark host North Macedonia in the other tie.

Brian Riemer coaches Denmark, who missed automatic qualification after a late defeat to Scotland. North Macedonia are led by Goce Sedloski.

Inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico

Matches are scheduled across Zapopan and Guadalupe. Two winners will join the World Cup field.

Pathway 1: New Caledonia, Jamaica, DR Congo

New Caledonia play Jamaica in Zapopan on March 27. New Caledonia finished second to New Zealand in Oceania qualifying.

Jamaica missed out on automatic qualification and changed coaches recently. Rudolph Speid leads the Reggae Boyz into the semi-final.

DR Congo received a bye to the final. They beat Nigeria on penalties to reach this stage.

Pathway 2: Bolivia, Suriname, Iraq

Bolivia face Suriname in Guadalupe on March 26. Bolivia last played at the World Cup in 1994.

Suriname compete as a Concacaf member despite being geographically in South America. Henk ten Cate is their coach.

Iraq are seeded into the final. Graham Arnold manages Iraq, who last appeared at the World Cup in 1986.

What is at stake

All inter-confederation finals, and the European finals, will be completed by March 31 local time. Four European sides will qualify.

Two teams will advance from the inter-confederation section. The winners will travel to North America for the 2026 tournament.

• Play-off kick-offs begin March 26.
• Inter-confederation fixtures take place in Mexico.
• Teams still in contention represent a broad mix of confederations.

Filmogaz.com will monitor results and provide updates as teams conclude their World Cup qualification campaigns.