European Nations Prepare for 2026 World Cup Play-offs
On Thursday, sixteen European nations will learn their opponents in the play-offs for a chance to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The draw, to be held in Switzerland, will feature 12 teams that finished second in their qualifying groups, along with the four highest-ranked Nations League group winners who did not secure a top two finish in their groups.
Only four spots for European teams at the World Cup are available, requiring nations to compete in two knockout matches to secure their places.
Additionally, six non-European teams will participate in a separate intercontinental play-off tournament to determine the final two World Cup spots.
Bolivia and New Caledonia will be joined by two teams from Concacaf and one each from AFC and CAF in this tournament, which will commence shortly before the European draw.
How Do the Play-offs Work?
The 16 teams entering the draw will be divided into four pots.
The 12 group runners-up will occupy the top three pots based on their FIFA rankings, while the four Nations League group winners will be placed in pot four.
One team from each pot will be drawn into four distinct paths: Path A, Path B, Path C, and Path D.
In each path, the pot one team will face the pot four team in a one-legged semi-final, while the teams from pot two and pot three will compete in the other semi-final.
Teams from pots one and two will host the semi-finals, and the draw will determine the host for the final in each path.
For instance, the winners of the Path A semi-finals will meet in the final, with the victor earning a place in the World Cup.
When Do the Play-offs Take Place?
The two rounds of play-off matches for the final World Cup spots are scheduled for March's international break.
The semi-finals will occur on March 26, 2026, with the finals taking place five days later.
Potential hosts for the semi-final and final matches must confirm their venues by December 19, 2025.
As part of UEFA's scheduling, the losing semi-finalists will play a friendly match against each other on the day of the path finals.
How to Watch and Follow on the BBC?
The European play-off draw will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website and app on Thursday, November 20, at 12:00 GMT.
Fans can follow the live text coverage on the BBC Sport website for updates and listen to the draw live on BBC Radio 5 Live, which is also accessible on BBC Sounds.
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