With the World Cup Draw complete, the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is hitting its final stretch as nations around the globe fight for the last spots in the expanded 48-team field. The playoff brackets are set, the schedule is locked in and every match carries win-or-go-home stakes. Before the action kicks off, here is a look at how the playoff format works, which teams are still alive and what to expect as the final qualifiers punch their tickets.
The remaining six slots in the 2026 World Cup will be decided in two separate tournament styles based on the confederations involved. Every match in the World Cup playoffs is win-or-go-home. This format creates a high-pressure sprint where a single mistake can end a nation’s hopes:
Six teams from five different confederations will compete in a mini-tournament that will decide the final two qualifiers. FIFA ranked the teams before the event, and the top two seeds (Iraq and DR Congo) advanced directly to the semifinals. The remaining four teams will meet in two opening matches, and the winners move on to face the seeded nations.
UEFA’s qualifying playoffs give 12 teams a second chance to reach the World Cup. Those 12 are split into four separate paths, each with its own mini-bracket. Each path has two semifinal matchups and one final. All games are single elimination, and the winner of each route earns a place in the World Cup.
The winner of FIFA Playoff 1 will join Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.
The winner of FIFA Playoff 2 will join France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.
The winner of UEFA Playoff A will join Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B.
The winner of UEFA Playoff B will join the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F.
The winner of UEFA Playoff C will join the United States, Paraguay and Australia in Group D.
The winner of UEFA Playoff D will join Mexico, South Africa and South Korea in Group A.
Below is a complete list of teams that are still in contention for the last six World Cup 2026 spots:
