Overview
- The intercontinental draw set semifinals of New Caledonia vs Jamaica and Bolivia vs Surinam, with DR Congo and Iraq advancing by ranking directly to the respective finals.
- FIFA confirmed the intercontinental mini-tournament will run March 23–31, 2026 in Mexico, with Monterrey and Guadalajara hosting all matches.
- UEFA’s play-offs will feature single-match semifinals on March 26 and finals on March 31 across four paths, including ties such as Italy vs Northern Ireland and Ukraine vs Sweden.
- Byes for DR Congo (ranked 56th) and Iraq (58th) were awarded based on the latest FIFA ranking, leaving each one win from a World Cup berth.
- The two intercontinental winners and four UEFA winners will complete the 48-team field, with FIFA set to finalize draw pots for the Dec. 5 tournament draw in Washington.