Overview
- CONCACAF closed with group winners Panama, Curacao and Haiti securing direct places, including Curacao’s first-ever berth and Haiti’s first since 1974.
- Jamaica and Suriname advanced to the intercontinental playoff after finishing second in their groups.
- Iraq defeated the UAE 2-1 with a stoppage-time, VAR-confirmed penalty to grab Asia’s intercontinental playoff slot.
- The intercontinental mini-tournament will be staged in Monterrey and Guadalajara in March, featuring Iraq, DR Congo, Bolivia, Jamaica, Suriname and New Caledonia, with the top two ranked teams receiving byes to the finals.
- UEFA will award four places via a 16-team, single-match playoff path in the March window, which together with the intercontinental playoff will complete the 48-team lineup.