What to know about the 2026 World Cup playoffs
The race for the final six spots in the upcoming World Cup is heating up as the playoff tournaments come to a close this week. With eight European teams vying for four spots and an intercontinental tournament in Mexico deciding the other two, the 48-team lineup for the biggest ever World Cup is almost complete.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico are set to host the tournament, marking the first time three nations are co-hosting the event. Among the European teams in the playoffs, Italy stands out as a four-time champion looking to avoid missing out on the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
With 16 European teams set to compete in the World Cup, the final four spots will be determined in winner-take-all matches. Bosnia-Herzegovina will face Italy, Sweden will take on Poland, Kosovo will play against Turkey, and Czech Republic will go up against Denmark – all matches scheduled for Tuesday.
On the other hand, the intercontinental playoffs will see two teams advance from a field of six. Congo, Jamaica, Iraq, and Bolivia have made it through to the final two matches, with Congo facing Jamaica and Bolivia playing against Iraq in decisive games set to be played in Guadalajara and Monterrey on Tuesday.
The World Cup lineup features co-hosts Canada, Mexico, and the United States, along with teams from Asia, Africa, North America, Central America, South America, and Oceania. The tournament is set to kick off on June 11 at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, with the final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium.
As the anticipation builds for the World Cup, fans around the globe are eagerly awaiting the final results of the playoff tournaments to see which teams will secure their places in the tournament. Stay tuned for more updates on the road to the World Cup on the AP soccer hub.
