2026 FIFA World Cup play-off: Italy face Northern Ireland as D.R. Congo await winner of either New Caledonia or Jamaica

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2026 FIFA World Cup play-off: Italy face Northern Ireland as D.R. Congo await winner of either New Caledonia or Jamaica

42 teams have booked their tickets for the much-awaited 2026 FIFA World Cup, with six slots left. Three nations will host the competition, as Africa w

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42 teams have booked their tickets for the much-awaited 2026 FIFA World Cup, with six slots left. Three nations will host the competition, as Africa will present at least nine.  Eight teams from Asia have already qualified, with Iraq in the play-off. 12 teams have booked their place from Europe, with four slots available for 16 teams to fight for. New Zealand is the only country to qualify from the Oceania zone. From CONMEBOL, six have qualified, with a slot available for Bolivia, which is in the play-off.

Three teams from North America have qualified, with Jamaica having the opportunity to book their place via the playoff.

 

Teams that have qualified so far

Hosts: Canada, Mexico, USA

Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Uzbekistan

Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia

Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

Oceania: New Zealand

South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay

North America: Curacao, Haiti, Panama

 

All the continents are involved in the playoff, with Oceania’s New Caledonia facing North America’s Jamaica in the semi-finals of the world play-off. The winner will face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In the other play-off, South America’s Bolivia will meet Suriname from CONCACAF, with the winner meeting Iraq.

 

World Fixtures

New Caledonia v Jamaica v D.R. Congo

Bolivia v Suriname v Iraq

 

In Europe, the troubled Italy will meet Northern Ireland, with the winner setting up a do-or-die clash against Wales and Bosnia & Herzegovina’s winner.

Ukraine will host Sweden, while Poland will meet Albania. Winners of the two games will meet for the final slot.

Slovenia and Kosovo will clash in Slovenia, with the winner meeting one Turkey or Romania.

Czech Republic will host the Republic of Ireland, with the winner meeting the winner of Denmark and North Macedonia

 

Europe

Wales v Bosnia & Herzegovina

Italy v Northern Ireland

Ukraine v Sweden

Poland v Albania

Slovenia v Kosovo

Turkey v Romania

Czech Republic v Ireland

Denmark v North Macedonia

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