Clear Pathways! FIFA To Hold 2026 World Cup Playoff Brackets Draw On...

Last Updated:November 07, 2025, 23:52 IST

The governing body will hold the draw on November 20 in Zurich to determine the playoff brackets for the final six participants in the 48-team 2026 World Cup.

FIFA World Cup trophy. (X)

FIFA will hold draws on November 20 in Zurich to determine the playoff brackets for the final six participants in the 48-team 2026 World Cup, as announced by the world football governing body on Friday.

The European brackets will include 16 teams, likely featuring four-time champion Italy, competing for four spots at the tournament, scheduled for next June and July in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Six teams from outside Europe will compete for two spots in the intercontinental playoffs, expected to be hosted by Mexico. Bolivia and New Caledonia have already secured their places.

All playoff games are set to take place from March 26-31.

The six playoff slots will serve as placeholders from the lowest-ranked pot 4 in the World Cup draw on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, with U.S. President Donald Trump expected to attend.

FIFA stated that the playoff brackets will be seeded based on the next men’s world rankings, to be published on November 19.

The European playoffs will consist of four separate brackets of four teams, playing single-game semifinals and finals. Teams qualify by finishing as runners-up in the 12 qualifying groups, plus four teams that won Nations League groups last year, likely including Wales and Sweden.

The 12 winners of the European qualifying groups, which conclude on November 18, will advance directly to the finals, with England already among them.

In the intercontinental playoffs, the four lowest-ranked teams will be paired in two single-game semifinals to advance to the finals against the two top-ranked teams.

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