Overview
- Matches will be staged in the FIFA window of 23–31 March 2026 at Estadio Guadalajara (Akron) and Estadio Monterrey (BBVA), with exact kickoffs to be announced.
- The six entrants are New Caledonia, Bolivia, Iraq, DR Congo, Jamaica and Suriname, competing for the last two World Cup spots.
- Based on FIFA rankings, Iraq and DR Congo advance directly to their bracket finals while Bolivia, New Caledonia, Jamaica and Suriname contest single‑match semifinals.
- Thursday’s draw in Zurich will set semifinal pairings and determine which bracket meets Iraq or DR Congo, with Jamaica and Suriname kept apart due to same‑confederation rules.
- Forty‑two teams have already qualified and November’s ranking fixed the seed pots, with the World Cup group‑stage draw set for December 5 in Washington, D.C.