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2026 World Cup Playoffs: Final Six Spots Decided This Week

Published March 30, 2026 · Updated March 30, 2026 · Sportsnet

The 2026 World Cup will finalize its 48-team lineup this week with European and intercontinental playoffs. Eight European teams vie for four spots, while six teams from six confederations compete for two places.

European playoffs feature eight teams—Bosnia‑Herzegovina vs Italy, Sweden vs Poland, Kosovo vs Turkey, Czech Republic vs Denmark—playing winner‑take‑all matches on Tuesday to claim four of the final spots.

The intercontinental playoff, staged in Mexico, pits Congo against Jamaica and Bolivia against Iraq, with the winners earning the remaining two berths. The 2026 tournament opens on June 11 at Azteca Stadium and concludes on July 19 at MetLife Stadium.

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