Intercontinental Playoff Matchups Confirmed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The final step on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now clear, after FIFA confirmed the matchups for the intercontinental playoffs. These games will decide the last two teams to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Draw: Who Plays Who

FIFA carried out the draw on Thursday, officially setting up the two three-team brackets.

Bracket 1

• New Caledonia vs Jamaica

• The winner will play DR Congo, who go straight to the Final because they have the highest FIFA ranking in the bracket.

Bracket 2

• Bolivia vs Suriname

• The winner will meet Iraq, the top-ranked team in this section.

These matchups will determine which two nations take the final World Cup places.

How the Intercontinental Playoff Works

The format is simple:

• Each bracket has one Semifinal and one Final.

• The two lowest-ranked teams in each bracket play the Semifinal.

• The highest-ranked team waits in the Final.

• All matches are single-leg knockouts.

• Extra time and penalties will be used if needed.

• The winners of the two Finals qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

There are no second legs and no safety net — one match will decide everything.

Dates and Venues

FIFA has also confirmed when and where the matches will be played:

• Semifinals: Monday, 23 March

• Finals: Tuesday, 31 March

All games will take place in Mexico at two World Cup stadiums:

• Estadio BBVA in Monterrey

• Estadio Akron in Guadalajara

With the draw completed and the schedule set, the countdown to the last two World Cup spots has officially begun. The pressure will be high, the margins extremely small — and only two teams will make it to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.