FIFA Announces Date and Venue for European and Intercontinental Playoff Draws for the 2026 World Cup
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has officially revealed the date and location for the draw of both the European and intercontinental playoffs leading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to FIFA’s official website, the draw will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. The event will determine the final qualification paths for the expanded World Cup, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in history.
Details of the Two Playoff Draws
FIFA explained that 22 national teams will compete for the final six available spots in the tournament—16 teams through the European playoff and 6 teams through the intercontinental playoff.
The European playoff will award four qualifying spots, while the intercontinental playoff will grant the remaining two, completing the list of teams participating in the 2026 World Cup.
European Playoff Format
The European playoff consists of 12 teams that finished second in their qualifying groups, in addition to four group winners from the UEFA Nations League.
These 16 teams will be divided into four paths, each featuring a single-leg semifinal and a single-leg final. The winner of each path will secure a place in the World Cup.
Intercontinental Playoff Structure
The intercontinental playoff features six teams representing different continental confederations:
- Bolivia from South America
- New Caledonia from Oceania
- Two teams from CONCACAF
- One team from Africa
- One team from Asia
The final lineup of participating teams will be determined after the upcoming international break, depending on results from ongoing continental qualifiers.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first edition of the tournament to include 48 national teams.
