World Cup Playoffs 2026: Tonight We Find Out Who’s In and Who’s Cooked

The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the biggest tournament in the sport’s history, spanning Canada, Mexico, and the United States — comes down to tonight. Four UEFA pathway finals and two intercontinental playoff finals in Mexico will decide the last six berths in the 48-team field.

Kosovo could qualify for their very first World Cup. Italy could miss a third consecutive tournament. Iraq hasn’t been since 1986. The stakes don’t get higher than this.

All four European finals kick off at 20:45 CET. The intercontinental finals in Mexico follow from the early hours.

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Nations With History on the Line

UEFA PLAYOFF FINALS

All four finals take place simultaneously at 20:45 CET.

UEFA PATH A · GROUP B (CANADA, QATAR, SWITZERLAND)

If ever Italy needed a wake-up call, two consecutive World Cup absences should have done it. Gennaro Gattuso’s Azzurri scraped past Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo on Thursday — Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean on the scoresheet — but it was a nervous performance. Bosnia, meanwhile, were minutes from elimination before Edin Dzeko, somehow still playing at 40, headed in an 86th-minute equaliser against Wales and forced penalties, which Bosnia won 4-2.

Hostile Zenica’s Stadion Bilino Polje has an intimidating reputation and gives Bosnia legitimate hope. But Italy carry Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali, and Manuel Locatelli, and with the ghost of 2018 and 2022 still burning, expect the Azzurri to be ruthless when it matters.

PICK: Italy qualify

UEFA PATH B · GROUP F (NETHERLANDS, JAPAN, TUNISIA)

Viktor Gyökeres is on a different planet right now. The Sporting CP striker hammered a hat-trick in Sweden’s 3-1 demolition of Ukraine — effectively booking the final on his own. Sweden, coached by Graham Potter (yes, that Graham Potter), had a woeful qualifying campaign but looks reborn in these playoffs. Home advantage at Friends Arena is significant.

Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 in Warsaw, with Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski doing the damage. The Lewandowski vs Gyökeres battle is the defining subplot of this tie — two of the world’s best strikers fighting for a World Cup place. Poland pushed the Netherlands close in qualifying, but Sweden’s current form and home support give them the edge.

PICK: Sweden qualify (possibly on penalties)

UEFA PATH C · GROUP D (USA, PARAGUAY, AUSTRALIA)

This is the romantic storyline of the night. Kosovo have NEVER qualified for a World Cup — they only began playing international football in 2014. They shocked everyone in the semis with a 4-3 away win in Bratislava against Slovakia — a performance brimming with youth, pace, and belief. Head coach Franco Foda has built something truly special.

Türkiye are the heavy favourite, with Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoglu, and Kenan Yildiz — genuine world-class talent. Vincenzo Montella’s side beat Romania 1-0 through Ferdi Kadioglu’s goal without breaking a sweat. The two nations’ previous two meetings both went Türkiye’s way. But tonight, the Fadil Vokrri will be the loudest stadium in Europe. Kosovo will make history — the question is what kind?

PICK: Türkiye qualify — but Kosovo will make it very hard

UEFA PATH D · GROUP A (MEXICO, SOUTH KOREA, SOUTH AFRICA)

Denmark is the quality side here. Brian Riemer has Christian Eriksen pulling strings, Rasmus Højlund leading the line, and the Danes dismantled North Macedonia 4-0 in Copenhagen in the semis. They blew automatic qualification earlier — a draw against Belarus, then a loss to Scotland — but look like a team that has found its edge at the right moment.

Czechia’s route here was pure drama: 2-0 down to the Republic of Ireland after 23 minutes in Prague, they clawed back to 2-2 and then won on penalties 4-3. Coach Miroslav Koubek will have his team fired up at Eden Arena, but Denmark’s individual quality should see them through. The one risk for Denmark is the pressure of being favourites — it has tripped them up before.

Keep an eye on the two starlets in the Danish midfield, both shining in the Portuguese league: Victor Froholdt and Morten Hjulmand. While the latter has shone in a Sporting that is currently in the quarter finals of the Champions League, Froholdt is just 19 years old and has been in peak form for Porto, who are currently the league leaders. We believe that the Danes have the upper hand there, against a Czech side that has a weaker midfield.

PICK: Denmark qualify

FIFA INTERCONTINENTAL PLAYOFFS

Hosted in Mexico, two intercontinental finals tonight decide the final two berths. The fixtures carry a human dimension beyond football — Iraq’s squad had to travel via a private jet arranged by FIFA after Iraqi airspace was closed due to the ongoing regional conflict.

FIFA INTERCONTINENTAL PATHWAY 1 · WINNER ENTERS GROUP K (PORTUGAL, UZBEKISTAN, COLOMBIA)

Congo DR — nicknamed the Warriors of the Equator — last appeared at a World Cup in 1974 as Zaire. They arrive loaded with European quality: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle), Arthur Masuaku (Lens), and captain Chancel Mbemba (Lille). This is a squad that would not look out of place in a UEFA playoff.

Jamaica scraped past New Caledonia 1-0 in the semis — Wrexham’s Bailey Cadamarteri with the only goal — under interim coach Rudolph Speid. The Reggae Boyz simply lack the depth to match Congo DR’s European firepower.

PICK: Congo DR qualify

FIFA INTERCONTINENTAL PATHWAY 2 · WINNER ENTERS GROUP I (FRANCE, SENEGAL, NORWAY)

Iraq haven’t been at a World Cup since 1986. Coach Graham Arnold has been dealing with a logistical nightmare — with Iraqi airspace closed, FIFA arranged a private jet for the squad. A planned Houston training camp was cancelled, and their competitive calendar has been empty since December. The disruption to preparation is enormous.

Bolivia, meanwhile, came to Mexico fully prepared. Their 2-1 comeback win over Suriname — overturning a first-half deficit — showed mental strength and match fitness. The South American altitude specialists will feel at home in the Mexican climate. Iraq’s logistical chaos makes this a match that Bolivia cannot lose.

PICK: Bolivia qualify

The Full Picture

By midnight CET tonight, the World Cup field will be complete. Six nations who went through qualifiers, playoffs, and — in Iraq’s case — genuine off-field trauma will find out if they’ll be in North America this June. Whatever happens, the stories written tonight will outlast the scorelines.