Daijiworld Media Network - Zurich

Zurich, Nov 7: FIFA has announced that the draws for the playoff brackets determining the final six qualification spots for the 2026 World Cup will be held on November 20 in Zurich. The 48-team tournament will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

According to FIFA, 16 European teams, including former four-time champions Italy, will compete for four coveted spots at the tournament. These playoffs will be held between March 26 and 31, 2026, while the remaining two slots will be decided through intercontinental playoffs expected to be hosted by Mexico. Notably, Bolivia and New Caledonia have already secured their places in the intercontinental stage.

FIFA stated that the playoff brackets will be seeded based on the next Men’s World Rankings, which are scheduled for release on November 19.

The European playoffs will be divided into four separate brackets, each comprising four teams. Single-leg semifinals and finals will determine the winners. Teams qualifying for these playoffs include runners-up from the 12 qualifying groups and four Nations League group winners, expected to feature sides such as Wales and Sweden.

Meanwhile, the 12 group winners from the European qualifiers — a list that already includes England — will automatically advance to the finals.

In the intercontinental playoffs, the four lowest-ranked teams will first compete in two semifinals, with the winners advancing to face the two top-ranked teams in the final round to secure World Cup qualification.

The official World Cup group stage draw will take place on December 5 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., where U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to attend.

The 2026 edition marks the first-ever 48-team World Cup, expanding opportunities for nations across the globe to make football history.