European nations contesting playoffs to secure World Cup spots is nothing new, but with football's biggest tournament getting even bigger in 2026, so too are those playoffs.
So, when are they, how do they work, and who's playing in them? We have all the answers for you right here.
How do the European Play-Offs work?
16 nations qualified for the European Play-Offs, the 12 runners-up from the qualifying groups, and the four teams highest ranked in the most recent edition of the Nations League who failed to finish in the top two of those groups.
The nations were split into four pots, with the first three pots based on the FIFA World Rankings and the fourth consisting of those to enter via the Nations League. One team from each pot was then placed in one of four paths.
In each of those paths, the team from Pot 1 faces the team from Pot 4 and the team from Pot 2 faces the team from Pot 3 in single-legged semi-finals, and the winners of those matches will then meet in a final.
The Pot 1 and Pot 2 nations host the semis, while the draw determined who hosts the finals.
Which nations are in the European Play-Offs?
Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine,
Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia
Pot 3: Ireland, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo
Pot 4: Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
How was the tournament drawn?
Play-off Path A
Semi-final 1: Italy vs Northern Ireland
Semi-final 2: Wales vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
Final A: Winners of 2 (home team) vs Winners of 1
Play-off Path B
Semi-final 3: Ukraine vs Sweden
Semi-final 4: Poland vs Albania
Final B: Winners of 3 (home team) vs Winners of 4
Play-off Path C
Semi-final 5: Turkey vs Romania
Semi-final 6: Slovakia vs Kosovo
Final C: Winners of 6 (home team) vs Winners of 5
Play-off Path D
Semi-final 7: Denmark vs North Macedonia
Semi-final 8: Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Final D: Winners of 8 (home team) vs Winners of 7
When are the European Play-Offs?
The playoffs will take place during the next international break on this season's calendar, in late March.
All eight of the semi-finals will be played on the evening of March 26th, and the four finals will then be played on March 31st. On the same day of the finals, the losing semi-finalists will face each other in friendlies.
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.
The times of each match will be confirmed after the draw.
When was the draw for the European Play-Offs?
The draw for the European Play-Offs was held in Switzerland on November 20th.
Before the European nations were drawn, there was a separate draw for the FIFA Play-Off tournament, the intercontinental playoffs consisting of six sides from outside of Europe, two of whom will qualify for the World Cup.
