Overview
- The UEFA and intercontinental play-off draws start at 12:00 GMT at FIFA HQ in Zurich, with streams on FIFA+ and broadcasters including BBC iPlayer.
- Europe’s 16-team play-offs will create four single-leg paths, with semifinals on March 26 and finals on March 31, as Pot 1 hosts Pot 4 and Pot 2 hosts Pot 3.
- Italy are a Pot 1 seed and will host a one-legged semifinal against a Pot 4 opponent from Romania, North Macedonia, Sweden or Northern Ireland.
- The intercontinental event features DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia and New Caledonia, with DR Congo and Iraq receiving byes to the pathway finals and matches expected in Mexico at Estadio Akron and Estadio BBVA.
- These draws map the final six berths for the 48-team 2026 World Cup, with winners entering the field ahead of the December 5 group-stage draw in Washington.