FIFA held the intercontinental play-off draw for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday. The event took place at its headquarters in Zurich. This marked a crucial step towards the global tournament.
French football legend Christian Karembeu hosted the ceremony. Six nations will now compete for the final two World Cup spots. This promises an intense battle.
The Draw Structure and Teams
The draw created two distinct pathways. Route one features New Caledonia against Jamaica in the first semi-final. The victor will then face the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). DR Congo is the highest-ranked team in this group.
Route two pits Bolivia against Suriname. The winning team will advance to play Iraq. Both DR Congo (56th) and Iraq (58th) were seeded. They received direct entry to their respective finals. Other participating nations include Bolivia (76th), Jamaica (70th), Suriname (123rd), and New Caledonia (149th).
Seeding follows the latest world rankings. The two highest-ranked teams bypass the initial knockout round. Four other teams will vie for the chance to challenge them. Jamaica and Suriname were separated. This prevents teams from the same confederation clashing early.
Host and Match Format
FIFA confirmed Mexico will host the play-off series. Matches are set for Guadalajara and Monterrey. They will take place between March 23 and 31, 2026.
All games will be single-leg knockout matches. Extra time will follow if scores are level after 90 minutes. A penalty shootout will decide the winner if the draw persists.
These intercontinental play-offs will secure just two berths for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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