Well well well – only six spots remain before the first ever 48-team field for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is complete — and the final tickets will be decided over the next few days.
Between the Intercontinental Playoffs and the UEFA European Playoffs, drama is guaranteed as nations fight for one last chance to reach football’s biggest stage.
What’s at Stake
- 6 total World Cup spots remaining
- Intercontinental Playoffs decide the final 2 nations
- UEFA Playoffs determine 4 European qualifiers
- Once complete, the full 48-team World Cup bracket will finally be set.
Here’s the full schedule, including kickoff times (Eastern Time), locations, and how to watch in the United States.
Intercontinental Playoffs
(Final two World Cup spots)
Host Country: Mexico
Broadcast (U.S.): FOX Sports / Telemundo / FIFA+ streaming
March 26, 2026 — Semifinals
Bolivia vs Suriname
🕔 5:00 PM ET
📍 Estadio BBVA — Monterrey, Mexico
📺 FOX Sports / Telemundo / FIFA+
New Caledonia vs Jamaica
🕗 8:00 PM ET
📍 Estadio Akron — Guadalajara, Mexico
📺 FOX Sports / Telemundo / FIFA+
🗓️ March 31, 2026 — Finals
DR Congo vs New Caledonia/Jamaica Winner
🕒 3:00 PM ET
📍 Estadio Akron — Guadalajara, Mexico
📺 FOX Sports / Telemundo / FIFA+
Iraq vs Bolivia/Suriname Winner
🕘 9:00 PM ET
📍 Estadio BBVA — Monterrey, Mexico
📺 FOX Sports / Telemundo / FIFA+
Two winners from these matches will officially complete the World Cup field.
🇪🇺 European Playoffs (UEFA)
Four World Cup spots available
Broadcast (U.S.): FOX Sports platforms (FS1/FS2/Fox Soccer Plus — check local listings)
All semifinal matches kick off simultaneously.
🗓️ March 26, 2026 — Semifinals (2:45 PM ET)
Path A
Italy vs Northern Ireland
📍 Gewiss Stadium — Bergamo, Italy
Wales vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
📍 Cardiff City Stadium — Cardiff, Wales
➡️ Final (March 31): Winner advances to World Cup Group B with Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.
Path B
Ukraine vs Sweden
📍 Estadi Ciutat de València — Valencia, Spain
Poland vs Albania
📍 PGE Narodowy — Warsaw, Poland
➡️ Final (March 31): Winner advances to World Cup Group E Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.
Path C
Turkey vs Romania
📍 Vodafone Park — Istanbul, Türkiye
Slovakia vs Kosovo
📍 National Football Stadium — Bratislava, Slovakia
➡️ Final (March 31): Winner advances to World Cup Group C with USA, Paraguay, and Australia.
Path D
Denmark vs North Macedonia
📍 Parken Stadium — Copenhagen, Denmark
Czechia vs Republic of Ireland
📍 Fortuna Arena — Prague, Czechia
➡️ Final (March 31): Winner advances to World Cup Group A with Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea.
(All finals scheduled for March 31 — 2:45 PM ET, hosted by semifinal winners.)
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