Overview
- FIFA will draw both the intercontinental and European playoff brackets in Zurich on Thursday at 13:00.
- Two intercontinental places will be decided in Mexico, with DR Congo and Iraq seeded into separate finals and Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname playing semifinals to reach them.
- A Jamaica–Suriname pairing is barred because both are from CONCACAF.
- Europe’s 16-team playoff features the 12 qualifying group runners-up plus four Nations League group winners split into four pots, with Pot 1 hosting Pot 4 and Pot 2 hosting Pot 3 in the semifinals and finals’ home venue drawn.
- All playoffs conclude at the end of March, finalizing the last six qualifiers before the tournament runs June 11 to July 19, 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.