2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs: How do they work, when are they, and who's involved?
· Yahoo Sports
FIFA have awarded World Cup spots through inter-confederation competitions for the better part of 60 years, and the 2026 World Cup has a larger, higher-profile pool of teams looking to lock up the tournament's two final spots.
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The first inter-confederations playoff saw Wales see off Israel over two games to reach the 1958 tournament. We can guarantee these final spots will look different, as Europe is the only confederation not putting teams into the playoffs.
So how will it work, how many teams will be there, when will it be held, and who will be involved in the 2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs?
Read on...
2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs: How do they work?
Six teams will play in the inter-confederation playoffs: one from CONMEBOL (Bolivia), one from Oceania (New Caledonia), one from Asia (Iraq), one from Africa (DR Congo), and two from CONCACAF (Jamaica and Suriname).
The two highest FIFA-ranked teams will get byes to finals in Pathway 1 and Pathway 2, while the remaining four teams will play semifinals ties to reach the final.
The winners of Pathway 1 and Pathway 2 will be awarded the final spots in Pot 4 of the 2026 World Cup draw.
When and where are the 2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs?
Reports have said the games will be played in Mexico at the homes of Chivas Guadalajara and Monterrey.
The matches will be played during the March international break.
Who will participate in the 2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs?
Bolivia will represent CONMEBOL as South America's sixth-ranked team from qualifying, while New Caledonia will represent Oceania after reaching the OFC qualifying final only to lose to New Zealand.
Asia will send either Iraq following a two-legged playoff win over UAE, while Africa will send the Democratic Republic of Congo after they beat Cameroon in the playoff semifinal and then Nigeria after penalty kicks in the final.
CONCACAF will send their top two group runners-up out of three teams: Jamaica and Suriname.
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq look to get byes to the final of each pathway, as the two top-ranked FIFA rankings in the group. The new FIFA rankings came out Wednesday, November 19. These are the rankings of the sextet:
- 56: Democratic Republic of Congo
- 58: Iraq
- 70: Jamaica
- 76: Bolivia
- 123: Suriname
- 149: New Caledonia
2026 World Cup inter-confederation playoffs schedule
Pathway 1
March 26, 2026
Semifinal: New Caledonia vs Jamaica in Zapopan
March 31, 2026
Final: Democratic Republic of Congo vs semifinal winner in Zapopan
Pathway 2
March 26, 2026
Semifinal: Bolivia vs Suriname in Guadalupe
March 31, 2026
Final: Iraq vs semifinal winner in Guadalupe