The 2026 FIFA Males’s World Cup kicks off on June 11 when co-hosts Mexico play South Africa in Mexico Metropolis, however six qualification locations are nonetheless up for grabs within the European and intercontinental playoffs.
The ultimate certified groups will likely be confirmed Tuesday with 4 European nations and the winners of the 2 intercontinental playoff finals sealing their spot within the Canada, Mexico and the USA this summer time.
Kosovo will host Türkiye trying to succeed in their first World Cup, and four-time world champions Italy should win at Bosnia and Herzegovina to keep away from lacking out on the finals for the third successive match.
Iraq (1986), Congo DR (as Zaire in 1974), Bolivia (1994) and Türkiye (2002) are all trying to finish prolonged absences from the World Cup, however who will likely be victorious within the six qualification finals?
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EUROPE
PATH A
Winner enters World Cup Group B (Canada, Qatar, Switzerland)
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy (Zenica, Bosnia): Edin Dzeko’s 86th-minute objective in opposition to Wales in Cardiff was the lifeline Bosnia wanted to remain within the semifinal and take the sport to penalties, which ended with a 4-2 shootout win for Sergej Barbarez’s group. At 40 years outdated, former Manchester Metropolis, AS Roma and Inter Milan striker Dzeko will turn out to be one of many oldest outfield gamers to look at a World Cup if he can encourage Bosnia once more within the last, however Italy will go into the sport as sturdy favorites.
Gennaro Gattuso’s group overcame a nervous begin to beat Northern Eire 2-0 on Bergamo in Thursday’s semifinal and that victory has boosted morale in Italy following playoff heartbreak in 2018 and 2022. Bosnia have residence benefit in Zenica on the hostile Stadium Bilino Polje, however Italy have the pedigree of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali and Manuel Locatelli, so they’ll don’t have any excuses for an additional playoff failure.
Winners: Italy
1:34
Laurens: Italy face harder check in opposition to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Julien Laurens breaks down Bosnia and Herzegovina’s dramatic penalty win over Wales forward of their World Cup showdown with Italy.
PATH B
Winner enters World Cup Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia)
Sweden vs. Poland (Stockholm, Sweden): Viktor Gyökeres nearly single-handedly sealed Sweden’s place within the last with a hat trick in Thursday’s 3-1 semifinal win in opposition to Ukraine in Valencia. Sweden, now coached by former Chelsea and West Ham United boss Graham Potter, severely underperformed throughout the qualifiers witha winless group marketing campaign, however they now have a house recreation in opposition to Poland to guide a spot on the World Cup.
The Poles needed to battle again from going a objective down in opposition to Albania in Warsaw earlier than profitable 2-1 with objectives from Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski they usually go into the Sweden recreation having run Netherlands shut of their qualifying group. Latest kind means that Poland will likely be favorites, however Sweden are at residence and the boldness of an enormous win in opposition to Ukraine. It will likely be shut, however Sweden will shade it — perhaps even on penalties.
Winners: Sweden
PATH C
Winner enters World Cup Group D (United States, Paraguay, Australia)
Kosovo vs. Türkiye (Pristina, Kosovo): Although Türkiye’s semifinal in opposition to Romania went as anticipated with Vincenzo Montella’s group profitable 1-0 by means of Ferdi Kadioglu’s objective, Kosovo upset the percentages with a 4-3 win away to Slovakia. Kosovo went into the playoffs because the lowest-ranked European nation nonetheless alive within the competitors, sitting in 78th place between Israel and Oman within the FIFA World Rating, however they dominated in Bratislava to seal a deserved victory.
Franco Foda’s group is younger, daring and filled with tempo and vitality, they usually have the flexibility to shock a Türkiye group stacked with high expertise together with Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz. Türkiye have gained the 2 earlier conferences between the groups and will likely be favorites, however Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri will likely be rocking in Pristina on Tuesday, and a passionate environment may tip the stability in Kosovo’s favor.
Winners: Kosovo
PATH D
Winner enters World Cup Group A (Mexico, South Korea, South Africa)
Czechia vs. Denmark (Prague, Czechia): Czechia seemed lifeless and buried in opposition to the Republic of Eire after discovering themselves 2-0 down in Prague after 23 minutes, however Miroslav Koubek’s group fought again to take the sport to penalties earlier than profitable 4-3 from the spot kicks.
However the Czechs will face a Denmark aspect that confirmed its high quality with a 4-0 win in opposition to North Macedonia in Copenhagen, so the Danes will likely be sturdy favorites heading into the ultimate. The questions on Denmark don’t have anything to do with their high quality — coach Brian Riemer has Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Højlund and Christian Norgaard on his roster — however whether or not they can deal with the strain of being favorites. A draw in opposition to Belarus and defeat in opposition to Scotland noticed them blow their hopes of automated qualification, so will they really feel the warmth in opposition to the Czechs? That is the hazard for Denmark, however maybe beating North Macedonia has proved their mettle.
Winners: Denmark
INTERCONTINENTAL PLAYOFFS
PATHWAY 1
Winner enters World Cup Group Ok (Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia)
Congo DR vs. Jamaica (Zapopan, Mexico): Jamaica toiled to a 1-0 win in opposition to rank outsiders New Caledonia within the semifinal, in order that they should step up a number of ranges to have any hope of beating Congo DR.
Congo, nicknamed the “Warriors of the Equator,” have top-level European expertise of their squad with Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United), Arthur Masuaku (Lens), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United) and captain Chancel Mbemba (Lille), so they need to be too sturdy for a Jamaica aspect led by interim coach Rudolph Speid. Wrexham’s Bailey Cadamarteri scored the match winner for Jamaica in opposition to New Caledonia, however repeating that effort will likely be robust in opposition to one of many strongest African groups.
Winners: Congo DR
PATHWAY 2
Winner enters World Cup Group I (France, Senegal, Norway)
Iraq vs. Bolivia (Guadalupe, Mexico): Iraq’s preparations for his or her playoff have been thrown into disarray by the continuing battle within the Center East, forcing coach Graham Arnold to ask FIFA for the sport to postponed because of the difficulties of his squad being about to journey from the area. However Tuesday’s match will go forward and the Lions of Mesopotamia could have a full squad attributable to name on after being given using a non-public jet to journey to Mexico. Whether or not the disruption to their plans will have an effect on Iraq’s possibilities stays to be seen, however Bolivia’s 2-1 semifinal win over Suriname, once they overturned a 1-0 deficit to assert victory, confirmed that the South American nation is match prepared — the identical can’t be stated for Iraq. Having had no aggressive video games since December, Iraq may battle to win this recreation and finish a 40-year anticipate a World Cup look.
Winners: Bolivia