European Nations Set for World Cup Play-off Draw in Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland – Sixteen European nations will learn their paths to the 2026 FIFA World Cup during a draw on Thursday. The event will determine matchups for a play-off tournament, giving teams a chance to secure one of four remaining spots in the prestigious tournament.

The draw features 12 teams that finished second in their qualifying groups and four Nations League group winners who did not place in the top two of their groups. Teams will play two knockout matches to qualify.

In addition, six non-European teams will compete in a separate intercontinental playoff built to decide the final two World Cup places. Teams like Bolivia, DR Congo, and New Caledonia will face off against representatives from Concacaf and AFC.

The 16 European teams will be divided into four pots for the draw. The 12 group runners-up will occupy the top three pots based on their FIFA rankings, while the four Nations League winners will be placed into pot four. One team from each pot will be assigned to paths A, B, C, and D.

In each path, the pot one team will compete against the pot four team in a one-legged semi-final. Similarly, teams in pots two and three will face each other in the other semi-finals, with venues determined by the draw.

The semi-finals are scheduled to start on March 26, 2026, with the finals five days later. The final match from each path will decide which team secures a place at the World Cup.

Potential hosts must confirm their venues by December 19, 2025. Losing semi-finalists will play friendly matches on the same day as the finals.

The draw will occur at 1 p.m. CET on November 20, and fans can follow live coverage on the BBC Sport website and radio.