World Cup: Last Six Spots
The final phase of 2026 World Cup qualification comes Tuesday when two playoff tournaments decide the last six spots and complete the expanded 48‑team field. It’s a single-day capstone that finalizes which federations make the tournament and settles matchups and travel logistics ahead of June. (apnews.com)
Four UEFA finals are set for March 31, 2026: Bosnia‑Herzegovina vs. Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica; Sweden vs. Poland at Strawberry Arena in Solna; Kosovo vs. Turkey at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina; and Czechia vs. Denmark in Prague. (worldcuppass.com) The inter‑confederation finals are also March 31: DR Congo vs. Jamaica at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara (5:00 p.m. ET) and Iraq vs. Bolivia at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey (11:00 p.m. ET). (worldcuppass.com) UEFA’s four path winners are preassigned to World Cup groups: the Path A winner enters Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland; Path B’s winner joins Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia; Path C’s winner slots into Group D with the United States, Paraguay and Australia; and Path D’s winner goes to Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. (usatoday.com) The two inter‑confederation victors will enter Group K (Portugal, Colombia, Uzbekistan) and Group I (France, Senegal, Norway), becoming the tournament’s 47th and 48th confirmed teams if they win their finals. (worldcuppass.com) The March 26 semifinals produced a string of deciding results: Italy 2‑0 Northern Ireland, Sweden 3‑1 Ukraine, Poland 2‑1 Albania and Kosovo 4‑3 Slovakia in Europe, while Bolivia and Jamaica advanced from the Mexico semis on March 26. (worldcuppass.com) FIFA’s tournament calendar runs June 11–July 19, 2026, and the governing body published an updated 104‑match schedule and host‑city assignments (16 cities across the U.S., Mexico and Canada) after the final draw, allowing federations and organizers to finalize venues and travel plans now that playoff winners will know their group destinations. (fifa.com)
