2026 World Cup qualifiers: Which teams will secure the last six positions?

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is set to commence on June 11, featuring co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City, while six qualification spots remain available through the European and intercontinental playoffs.

The final teams to qualify will be determined on Tuesday, with four European nations and the victors of the two intercontinental playoff finals securing their places in Canada, Mexico, and the United States this summer.

Kosovo will host Türkiye in their bid to qualify for their inaugural World Cup, while four-time champions Italy must secure a victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina to avoid missing the finals for the third consecutive tournament.

Iraq (1986), Congo DR (as Zaire in 1974), Bolivia (1994), and Türkiye (2002) are all aiming to break long absences from the World Cup, but which teams will emerge victorious in the six qualification finals?

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EUROPE

PATH A
Winner enters World Cup Group B (Canada, Qatar, Switzerland)

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy (Zenica, Bosnia): Edin Dzeko’s goal in the 86th minute against Wales in Cardiff provided Bosnia with the crucial lifeline they needed to advance to the semifinals, ultimately winning 4-2 in the penalty shootout. At 40 years old, the former Manchester City, AS Roma, and Inter Milan striker Dzeko could become one of the oldest outfield players to participate in a World Cup if he can lead Bosnia to victory in the final, although Italy enters the match as the clear favorites.

Gennaro Gattuso’s squad overcame a shaky start to secure a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Bergamo during Thursday’s semifinal, boosting morale in Italy following playoff disappointments in 2018 and 2022. Bosnia enjoys home advantage at the challenging Stadium Bilino Polje in Zenica, but Italy boasts the experience of players like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali, and Manuel Locatelli, leaving them with no justifications for another playoff failure.

Winners: Italy

play1:34Laurens: Italy face tougher test against Bosnia and Herzegovina

Julien Laurens analyzes Bosnia and Herzegovina’s dramatic penalty win over Wales ahead of their World Cup clash with Italy.

PATH B
Winner enters World Cup Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia)

Sweden vs. Poland (Stockholm, Sweden): Viktor Gyökeres nearly single-handedly secured Sweden’s place in the final with a hat trick during Thursday’s 3-1 semifinal victory over Ukraine in Valencia. Sweden, now under the guidance of former Chelsea and West Ham United manager Graham Potter, significantly underperformed in the qualifiers with a winless group stage, but they now face Poland at home with a chance to qualify for the World Cup.

The Polish team had to rally from a goal down against Albania in Warsaw, ultimately winning 2-1 thanks to goals from Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski. They enter the match against Sweden having performed well in their qualifying group. Recent form indicates that Poland may be favored, but Sweden’s home advantage and confidence from their significant win against Ukraine could play a crucial role. It is expected to be a close contest, potentially even going to penalties.

Winners: Sweden

PATH C
Winner enters World Cup Group D (United States, Paraguay, Australia)

Kosovo vs. Türkiye (Pristina, Kosovo): Türkiye’s semifinal against Romania unfolded as anticipated, with Vincenzo Montella’s team winning 1-0 thanks to Ferdi Kadioglu’s goal, while Kosovo defied expectations with a 4-3 victory away to Slovakia. Kosovo entered the playoffs as the lowest-ranked European nation still in contention, positioned 78th in the FIFA World Ranking, but they excelled in Bratislava to earn a well-deserved win.

Franco Foda’s squad is youthful, dynamic, and full of energy, possessing the potential to surprise a Türkiye team rich in talent, including Arda Güler, Hakan Çalhanoglu, and Kenan Yildiz. Türkiye has triumphed in both previous encounters between the teams and will be favored, but the atmosphere at Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri in Pristina on Tuesday could sway the outcome in Kosovo’s favor.

Winners: Kosovo

PATH D
Winner enters World Cup Group A (Mexico, South Korea, South Africa)

Czechia vs. Denmark (Prague, Czechia): Czechia appeared to be in dire straits against the Republic of Ireland, trailing 2-0 in Prague after 23 minutes, but Miroslav Koubek’s team mounted a comeback to take the match to penalties, ultimately winning 4-3 in the shootout.

However, the Czechs will face a Denmark team that demonstrated its quality with a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia in Copenhagen, making the Danes strong favorites heading into the final. The concerns surrounding Denmark are not related to their skill—coach Brian Riemer has Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Højlund, and Christian Norgaard at his disposal—but rather whether they can manage the pressure of being the favorites. A draw against Belarus and a loss to Scotland derailed their hopes of automatic qualification, raising the question of how they will perform against the Czechs. This could pose a challenge for Denmark, but their recent win over North Macedonia may have bolstered their confidence.

Winners: Denmark

INTERCONTINENTAL PLAYOFFS

PATHWAY 1
Winner enters World Cup Group K (Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia)

Congo DR vs. Jamaica (Zapopan, Mexico): Jamaica struggled to secure a 1-0 victory against underdogs New Caledonia in the semifinal, so they will need to elevate their performance significantly to have any chance against Congo DR.

Congo, known as the “Warriors of the Equator,” features players with top-level European experience, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United), Arthur Masuaku (Lens), Yoane Wissa (Newcastle United), and captain Chancel Mbemba (Lille), making them a formidable opponent for Jamaica, who are led by interim coach Rudolph Speid. Wrexham’s Bailey Cadamarteri scored the decisive goal for Jamaica against New Caledonia, but replicating that success will be challenging against one of Africa’s strongest teams.

Winners: Congo DR

PATHWAY 2
Winner enters World Cup Group I (France, Senegal, Norway)

Iraq vs. Bolivia (Guadalupe, Mexico): Iraq’s preparations for their playoff have been disrupted by ongoing conflict in the Middle East, prompting coach Graham Arnold to request FIFA to postpone the match due to the challenges faced by his squad traveling from the region. Nevertheless, Tuesday’s match will proceed, and the Lions of Mesopotamia will have a complete squad available after being granted the use of a private jet for their journey to Mexico. Whether the disruption will impact Iraq’s performance remains uncertain, but Bolivia’s 2-1 semifinal win over Suriname, where they came back from a 1-0 deficit to win, indicates that the South American team is ready for competition—unlike Iraq, who have not played any competitive matches since December. Iraq may find it difficult to secure a victory and end a 40-year absence from the World Cup.

Winners: Bolivia