Who can still qualify for the World Cup?

[BBC] The final six spots at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada will be decided this month. Four European nations have the chance to qualify via the play-offs, featuring one-legged semi-finals and then a final. The semi-finals take place on Thursday, 26 March and the finals on Tuesday, 31 March.

The other two places will be decided via the intercontinental play-offs, which features six nations. The European play-off winners will enter World Cup groups A, B, D, and F, while the intercontinental play-off winners will be added into groups I and K. Who can qualify from Europe?

Northern Ireland, Wales and Republic of Ireland are all in contention to qualify for the 2026 World Cup [Getty Images] Path A Semi-final: Italy v Northern Ireland Semi-final: Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina Final: Wales/Bosnia-Herzegovina v Italy/Northern Ireland Wales are aiming to make it to back-to-back men's World Cups for the first time, but Bosnia-Herzegovina stand in their way. Craig Bellamy's side host the semi-final in Cardiff with the winners hosting the final five days later. Northern Ireland, who are aiming to end a 40-year World Cup wait, have the tough task of facing an Italy team looking to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014.

The winners of this play-off path will secure their place in Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. Path B Semi-final: Ukraine v Sweden Semi-final: Poland v Albania Final: Ukraine/Sweden v Poland/Albania Ukraine came second in their qualifying group behind 2022 World Cup runners-up France and lose their home advantage against Sweden due to the ongoing conflict with Russia. The semi-final will instead take place in Valencia, Spain.