The FIFA Play-Off Tournament will decide the final two teams heading to the World Cup 26. According to FIFA, this crucial event involves six sides fighting for the last available spots at the global showpiece in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament is scheduled for the international window in March 2026, promising a dramatic end to the qualification process.
The format is direct and high-stakes. Two teams from Concacaf (North, Central America and the Caribbean) will be joined by one team each from AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONMEBOL (South America), and OFC (Oceania). The four lowest-ranked nations, based on the FIFA World Ranking, must first compete in semi-final matches. The two highest-ranked teams receive a bye straight to the bracket finals. The winners of these two finals will secure their place at World Cup 26.
Which Teams Have Already Qualified?
The line-up for the play-off tournament is already taking shape, with two nations having confirmed their participation after dramatic qualifying campaigns.
From South America, Bolivia clinched the CONMEBOL spot in stunning fashion. FIFA confirmed that on 9 September 2025, La Verde defeated Brazil 1-0 in La Paz to snatch seventh place in the standings. This leapfrogged Venezuela and handed Bolivia the single play-off berth.
Oceania will be represented by New Caledonia. Despite losing 3-0 to New Zealand in the OFC final on 24 March 2025, their journey to the final was enough. As GOAL reported, New Caledonia’s runner-up status earned them a historic chance to qualify for their first-ever World Cup through the play-off tournament.
The Paths For The Remaining Contenders
For the other confederations, the race to secure a play-off place will be decided in late 2025.
- Asia (AFC): Asia has eight direct slots, but one extra through the play-off. The process runs across five gruelling rounds. FIFA explained:
“The fifth round will pit together the two sides which finished as runners-up in the fourth-round group in a two-legged contest. The winner of that meeting will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.”
This decisive tie will be staged in November 2025. - Africa (CAF): Africa has nine direct places. Its play-off spot will be decided through a second round. FIFA outlined:
“The four best runners-up from the initial group stage will enter a play-off. This consists of two one-off semi-finals followed by a final, with the winner taking the CAF’s single spot.”
These matches will also be held in November 2025. - North, Central America & the Caribbean (Concacaf): The host region gets two play-off slots. They will go to the two best second-place finishers from the third round of qualifying, which consists of three groups of four teams. Their identities will be known by November 2025.
Tournament Format And Match Rules
Mexico hosts the six-team event in the 23–31 March 2026 window, with Monterrey and Guadalajara set to stage matches.
GOAL notes: “If scores are level after normal time, extra time will be played. Should scores remain tied, a penalty shoot-out will decide the winner.” The Sports Cast
Bracket layout: each of the two brackets contains one seeded team (among the top two in FIFA Rankings) and two unseeded teams.
The unseeded sides play a semi-final; the winner faces the seeded team for a World Cup place.
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