When are UEFA’s World Cup 2026 playoffs, and which nations are involved?

With the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicking off on June 11, the final spots that are still up for grabs are being fiercely fought by nations in qualifiers around the globe. The last governing body to complete their continental playoff route is UEFA, with four European spots still up for grabs at the showpiece event . Thereafter, FIFA’s Play-Off Tournament – an intercontinental competition – will provide the last-chance saloon for two more of the best non-qualified finishers from the other continental processes around the globe.

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at UEFA’s final continental playoff path as that draws to a close. Which UEFA teams are still in with a chance of World Cup qualification? There will be more European teams than from any other continent at the World Cup: 16.

There are still 16 European teams, meanwhile, vying for the final four of the UEFA qualifying positions for the World Cup: Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania, Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye, Romania, Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia and the Republic of Ireland Which UEFA teams have already qualified for the World Cup? The 12 European teams that have already qualified for the World Cup are: Germany, Switzerland, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway, Belgium, England, and Croatia What is the pathway to the World Cup for the remaining UEFA teams? The remaining teams are divided into four paths.

Only the winner of each path will qualify: Path A: Italy vs Northern Ireland and Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina The winner of this path joins World Cup Group B (with Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland). Path B: Ukraine vs Sweden and Poland vs Albania The winner of this path joins World Cup Group F (with the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia). Path C: Slovakia vs Kosovo and Turkiye vs Romania The winner of this path joins World Cup Group D (with USA, Paraguay, and Australia).