Everything you need to know about the Inter-Confederation Play-Offs for the 2026 World Cup

[p]Nations contesting inter-confederation playoffs to secure World Cup spots is nothing new, but with football's biggest tournament getting even bigger in 2026, so too are the playoffs.[/p][p]So, when are they, how do they work, and who's playing in them? We have all the answers for you right here.[/p][h2]How does the FIFA Play-Off Tournament work?[/h2][p]Six countries earned their spot in this playoff, with every confederation except for UEFA being given a place. Additionally, the host confederation for next year's final tournament, CONCACAF, received an extra place.[/p][p]For the draw, the sides were seeded based on their FIFA World Rankings. The top two nations ahead of the draw automatically qualified for the Play-off finals and were seeded for the draw. The remaining four teams were unseeded and will partake in the semi-finals.[/p][p]The countries were drawn into two different paths. The first team drawn went into the first path available.[/p][p]Finally, the CONCACAF representatives cannot be drawn into the same path.[/p][h2]Which nations qualified for the tournament?[/h2][p][b]Seeded: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]Democratic Republic of Congo[/a][/b] (CAF), [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iraq/K8aAGt6r/"]Iraq[/a][/b] (AFC)[/p][p][b]Unseeded: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jamaica/CWmDb3zj/"]Jamaica[/a][/b] (CONCACAF), [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bolivia/nXdi7mbc/"]Bolivia[/a][/b] (CONMEBOL), [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/suriname/jefTDM4k/"]Suriname[/a][/b] (CONCACAF), [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-caledonia/0d8yIVUN/"]New Caledonia[/a][/b] (OFC)[/p][h2]How was the tournament drawn?[/h2][h2]Pathway 1 - Guadalajara[/h2][p][b]Semi-final: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/jamaica-CWmDb3zj/new-caledonia-0d8yIVUN/?mid=bsLmfNVN"]New Caledonia 0-1 Jamaica[/a] (Match 1)[/b][/p][p][b]Final: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/jamaica-CWmDb3zj/new-caledonia-0d8yIVUN/?mid=bsLmfNVN"]D.R. Congo vs Jamaica[/a][/b][/p][h2]Pathway 2 - Monterrey[/h2][p][b]Semi-final: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bolivia-nXdi7mbc/suriname-jefTDM4k/?mid=UPBJl1go"]Bolivia 2-1 Suriname[/a] (Match 2)[/b][/p][p][b]Final: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bolivia-nXdi7mbc/iraq-K8aAGt6r/?mid=nu8tqnGs"]Iraq vs Bolivia[/a][/b][/p][embed guid="fbf61172-c145-4c20-a370-ae1071212784" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/1991480325411651754" social-type="twitter" /][h2]When is the FIFA Play-Off Tournament?[/h2][p]The playoffs will take place during the next international break on this season's calendar, in late March. All four of the play-off matches will occur in Mexico, one of the countries co-hosting the final tournament.[/p][p]Guadalajara and Monterrey are the host cities for the tournament, with each city staging a bracket.[/p][p][b]Both semi-finals will be played on March 26th, with the two finals set for March 31st.[/b][/p][p]There will be no return legs, with each match going to extra-time and a penalty shootout if necessary, should the scores be level after 90 minutes.[/p][h2]When was the draw for the FIFA Play-Off Tournament?[/h2][p]The draw for the inter-confederation playoffs was held in Switzerland on November 20th.[/p][p]Shortly after the FIFA Play-Off draw, there was a separate draw for the European Play-Offs, the playoff containing 16 European teams.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-cup-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-european-play-offs-for-the-2026-world-cup/zTTgMtZg/"]Find out all you need to know about the European Play-Offs here.[/a][/h2]