2026 FIFA World Cup UEFA Qualification Second Round: Qualified Teams & Play-Off Schedule

The 2026 FIFA World Cup UEFA Qualification Second Round, also known as the UEFA Playoffs, will feature 16 teams competing for the final four European spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

This comprehensive guide to the 2026 FIFA World Cup UEFA Qualification covers all the teams that have secured Second Round play-off places, the format, and the complete schedule for March 2026.​

2026 FIFA World Cup UEFA Qualification Second Round Overview

The 2026 FIFA World Cup UEFA Second Round (Play-Offs) will provide dramatic knockout football across four distinct paths in March 2026, with matches on March 26 (semi-finals) and March 31 (finals).

Four of Europe’s strongest nations will secure World Cup spots through this playoff system, joining the 12 direct-qualifying group winners to complete Europe’s 16-team delegation to Canada, Mexico, and the United States.​

The official draw on November 20, 2025, will finalise the playoff paths and pairings, setting the stage for one of international football’s most compelling playoff tournaments.

For nations missing out on direct group qualification, the March 2026 play-offs represent the final opportunity to secure a place at football’s greatest championship.

2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualified teams

Group Winners (12 Direct Qualifiers)​

As of November 20, 2025, the following 12 group winners have already qualified directly for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will not participate in the play-offs:​

Note: Several groups are wrapping up their final matchday 10 fixtures in November 2025, with final confirmations awaiting the completion of the remaining games.

UEFA Play-Off Participants: 16 Qualified Teams

The UEFA play-offs will feature 16 teams:

• 12 Group Runners-Up (automatically advance to play-offs)​
• 4 Best-Ranked UEFA Nations League Group Winners (outside top-two in qualifying groups)​

Confirmed Group Runners-Up (All 12 Advancing to Play-Offs)​

Based on the official UEFA bracket structure, the 12 runners-up confirmed to advance to the play-offs are:​

UEFA Nations League Path Teams (4 Advancing to Play-Offs)

Four additional teams will qualify from the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League overall ranking, selected from group winners who did NOT finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups.​

Top Nations League Candidates​

Based on UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking (as of 20 November 2025):

The four highest-ranked Nations League group winners who don’t finish in the top two of their qualifying group will take the remaining play-off spots. These spots will be confirmed once the qualifying group stage wraps up in November 2025.

Seeding

UEFA Play-Off Format: Four Paths to the World Cup

Tournament Structure​

The 16 play-off teams will be divided into four distinct paths, each containing four teams. Each path will feature:

• 2 Semi-Finals (March 26, 2026)
• 1 Final (March 31, 2026)

Total Play-Off Matches: 12 (6 per day on semi-final day)​

Match Format​

Semi-Finals (March 26):

• Single-leg knockout matches
• Pot 1 team hosts Pot 4 team
• Pot 2 team hosts Pot 3 team
• If tied after 90 minutes: 30 minutes extra time + penalties if necessary​

Finals (March 31):

• Single-leg knockout matches
• The host is chosen through a draw between the winners of the semi-finals.
• If tied after 90 minutes: 30 minutes extra time + penalties if necessary​

Play-Off Match Schedule​

Semi-Finals: Thursday, March 26, 2026

• Path A:
  • Semifinal Match 1– Italy & Northern Ireland
  • Semifinal Match 2– Wales & Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Path B:
  • Semifinal Match 3– Ukraine & Sweden
  • Semifinal Match 4– Poland & Albania
• Path C:
  • Semifinal Match 1– Turkey & Romania
  • Semifinal Match 1– Slovakia & Kosovo
• Path D:
  • Semifinal Match 1– Denmark & North Macedonia
  • Semifinal Match 1– Czech Republic & Ireland

Finals: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

• Path A Final
  • Semifinal 1 Winner vs Semifinal 2 Winner
• Path B Final
  • Semifinal 3 Winner vs Semifinal 4 Winner
• Path C Final
  • Semifinal 5 Winner vs Semifinal 6 Winner
• Path D Final
  • Semifinal 7 Winner vs Semifinal 8 Winner

Draw and Path Allocation

Official Draw Date​

The UEFA Play-Off Draw will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2025​

Draw Procedure:

1. Teams will be drawn into four distinct paths (A, B, C, D)​
2. Within each path, four teams will be seeded into Pots 1-4​
3. Seeding based on FIFA World Rankings and UEFA Nations League performance​

Path Determination​

Pot 1 teams (top seeds) in each path will be paired with Pot 4 teams (bottom seeds) in the semi-finals
Pot 2 teams will face Pot 3 teams in the semi-finals​

Winners of each semi-final pair will meet in the path final​

Key Playoff Contenders and Analysis – Likely Strong Playoff Teams​

Ukraine (Group D Runners-Up)

• Confirmed Group D runner-up​
• Strong pedigree in international football
• Expected to be seeded high in the play-offs

Republic of Ireland (Group F Runners-Up)

• Confirmed Group F runner-up​
• Strong UEFA Nations League ranking
• Competitive play-off prospects

Italy (Group I Runners-Up)

• Confirmed Group I runner-up​
• Defending Euro 2020 finalists
• Experienced in knockout tournaments

Albania (Group K Runners-Up)

• Confirmed Group K runner-up​
• Recent qualification for the play-offs shows improvement
• Competitive European football

Czech Republic (Group L Runners-Up)

• Confirmed Group L runner-up​
• Strong qualifying campaign
• Experienced in European football

Nations League Play-Off Contenders​

Wales (UNL B-19, Group J)

• Expected to secure a play-off spot via the Nations League ranking
• Group J is uncertain between Wales/North Macedonia

Romania (UNL C-33, Group H)

• Strong candidate for Nations League play-off spot
• Likely to be selected as the best-ranked Nations League winner outside top two.

Sweden (UNL C-34, Group B)

• Nations League Group Winner candidate
• Expected play-off qualification via Nations League ranking

Northern Ireland (UNL C-36, Group A)

• Potential Nations League play-off entrant
• Competing for one of four Nations League spots

Tournament Timeline and Key Dates

Total European Teams at the 2026 World Cup​

Final European Delegation: 16 Teams

• 12 Group Winners (Direct Qualification)
• 4 Play-Off Winners (From March 2026 play-offs)

Previous World Cup Comparison:

• 2022 Qatar: 13 European teams
• 2026 North America: 16 European teams (increase of 3 due to 48-team expansion)

Historical Context: UEFA Play-Off System

The UEFA play-off format for the 2026 World Cup follows the same system that has been used in previous tournaments.

Four-Path Structure Benefits:

• Ensures geographical balance in European representation
• Creates dramatic semi-final action before finals
• Provides multiple storylines across March 2026
• Allows for compelling playoff matchups among quality nations

Next Steps and Official Confirmations

Pending Actions (November-December 2025):

1. Completion of final qualifying group matches
2. Confirmation of all 12 group runners-up
3. Final selection of 4 Nations League path teams
4. Official UEFA Play-Off Draw on November 20, 2025