World Cup 2026 draw: European and global play-offs explained
The draw for the 2026 World Cup promises to be a key moment in the final qualification phase. This article explains how the European play-offs and the intercontinental play-off tournament work, which countries will take part, and when the draw will take place.
European play-offs for the 2026 World Cup
The European play-offs will determine the last four European participants for the 2026 World Cup. The draw will be held on Thursday, 20 November 2025, at the Home of FIFA in Zürich, Switzerland. This draw follows immediately after the conclusion of the November international window.
The European draw will start shortly after 13:00 CET. It will define the path to the tournament for sixteen European nations. The draw will be streamed live on FIFA.com, FIFA+ and through media partners.
Format and participating nations
A total of 16 nations will take part in the European play-offs. These include:
- The 12 runners-up from the European Qualifying groups
- The 4 highest-ranked UEFA Nations League group winners not directly qualified
These sixteen teams will be divided into four paths with four nations each. Each path consists of a single-leg semi-final and a single-leg final. The four winners will earn a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
Intercontinental play-offs: battle for the final World Cup tickets
In addition to Europe, the final global qualification will also be decided through the intercontinental play-off tournament. This competition will determine two extra spots for the 2026 World Cup. The draw will also take place on 20 November 2025 in Zürich, just before the European draw.
Draw details and tournament format
Six nations from different continents will take part in the intercontinental play-offs. The participants are:
- Two teams from Asia (AFC)
- Two teams from Africa (CAF)
- One team from North and Central America (Concacaf)
- One team from South America (CONMEBOL) or Oceania (OFC)
Two teams will be seeded based on the FIFA World Ranking. The remaining four nations will first play semi-finals. The winners of those matches will face the seeded teams in two finals. The winners of those finals will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The matches will be played during the international window from 23 to 31 March 2026.
Final step towards the tournament
The draw on 20 November 2025 marks the conclusion of the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup. With 22 teams still competing through the play-offs, this stage promises to be an exciting lead-up to the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Fans can follow the draw live and see which nations seize their final opportunity to reach the world stage.
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The draw for the 2026 World Cup play-offs in Europe and worldwide will take place on 20 November 2025. Discover the teams, format and tournament details.
About the author
Author of this content is Patrick. I have been playing soccer for more than 25 years and follow the daily news closely. My hobbies include playing football, running and maintaining various websites, in addition to my job as a financial professional.
I do not work for any related company or institution, so the information is reliable and independent. The information has been collected accurately from reliable sources and is regularly updated.