2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA second round
Updated: 5/24/2026, 7:08:54 PM Wikipedia source
The UEFA second round of the qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, also known as the UEFA play-offs or European play-offs, was contested by sixteen teams from the UEFA segment of qualifying. The play-offs determined the final four European teams that joined the twelve group winners at the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The twelve runners-up from the UEFA first round groups participated in the play-offs, along with four teams based on the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League interim overall ranking. The teams were divided into four paths, each containing four teams, with each play-off path featuring two single-leg semi-finals and one single-leg final. The twelve matches took place on 26 and 31 March 2026. Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Turkey qualified for the final tournament.
Tables
· Qualified teams › Second-placed teams (all twelve advance)
A
A
Group
A
Runners-up
Slovakia
B
B
Group
B
Runners-up
Kosovo
C
C
Group
C
Runners-up
Denmark
D
D
Group
D
Runners-up
Ukraine
E
E
Group
E
Runners-up
Turkey
F
F
Group
F
Runners-up
Republic of Ireland
G
G
Group
G
Runners-up
Poland
H
H
Group
H
Runners-up
Bosnia and Herzegovina
I
I
Group
I
Runners-up
Italy
J
J
Group
J
Runners-up
Wales
K
K
Group
K
Runners-up
Albania
L
L
Group
L
Runners-up
Czech Republic
| Group | Runners-up |
| A | Slovakia |
| B | Kosovo |
| C | Denmark |
| D | Ukraine |
| E | Turkey |
| F | Republic of Ireland |
| G | Poland |
| H | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| I | Italy |
| J | Wales |
| K | Albania |
| L | Czech Republic |
· Qualified teams › Nations League teams (four advance)
Nations League group winners
Nations League group winners
UNL
Nations League group winners
A
A
UNL
A
Rank
1
Team
Spain &
Qualifying
group
E
2
2
UNL
2
Rank
Germany &
Team
A
3
3
UNL
3
Rank
Portugal &
Team
F
4
4
UNL
4
Rank
France &
Team
D
B
B
UNL
B
Rank
17
Team
England &
Qualifying
group
K
18
18
UNL
18
Rank
Norway &
Team
I
19
19
UNL
19
Rank
Wales †
Team
J
20
20
UNL
20
Rank
Czech Republic †
Team
L
C
C
UNL
C
Rank
33
Team
Romania ‡
Qualifying
group
H
34
34
UNL
34
Rank
Sweden ‡
Team
B
35
35
UNL
35
Rank
North Macedonia ‡
Team
J
36
36
UNL
36
Rank
Northern Ireland ‡
Team
A
D
D
UNL
D
Rank
49
Team
Moldova
Qualifying
group
I
50
50
UNL
50
Rank
San Marino
Team
H
Nations League remaining teams
A
5
Italy †
I
6
Netherlands &
G
7
Denmark †
C
8
Croatia &
L
9
Scotland &
C
10
Serbia
K
11
Hungary
F
12
Belgium &
J
13
Poland †
G
14
Israel
I
15
Switzerland &
B
16
Bosnia and Herzegovina †
H
Nations League remaining teams
A
5
Italy †
I
6
Netherlands &
G
7
Denmark †
C
8
Croatia &
L
9
Scotland &
C
10
Serbia
K
11
Hungary
F
12
Belgium &
J
13
Poland †
G
14
Israel
I
15
Switzerland &
B
16
Bosnia and Herzegovina †
H
UNL
Nations League remaining teams
A
5
Italy †
I
6
Netherlands &
G
7
Denmark †
C
8
Croatia &
L
9
Scotland &
C
10
Serbia
K
11
Hungary
F
12
Belgium &
J
13
Poland †
G
14
Israel
I
15
Switzerland &
B
16
Bosnia and Herzegovina †
H
| UNL | Rank | Team | Qualifying group |
| Nations League group winners | |||
| A | 1 | Spain & | E |
| 2 | Germany & | A | |
| 3 | Portugal & | F | |
| 4 | France & | D | |
| B | 17 | England & | K |
| 18 | Norway & | I | |
| 19 | Wales † | J | |
| 20 | Czech Republic † | L | |
| C | 33 | Romania ‡ | H |
| 34 | Sweden ‡ | B | |
| 35 | North Macedonia ‡ | J | |
| 36 | Northern Ireland ‡ | A | |
| D | 49 | Moldova | I |
| 50 | San Marino | H | |
| Nations League remaining teams A 5 Italy † I 6 Netherlands & G 7 Denmark † C 8 Croatia & L 9 Scotland & C 10 Serbia K 11 Hungary F 12 Belgium & J 13 Poland † G 14 Israel I 15 Switzerland & B 16 Bosnia and Herzegovina † H | |||
A
A
Nations League remaining teams
A
Nations League remaining teams
5
Nations League remaining teams
Italy †
Nations League remaining teams
I
6
6
Nations League remaining teams
6
Nations League remaining teams
Netherlands &
Nations League remaining teams
G
7
7
Nations League remaining teams
7
Nations League remaining teams
Denmark †
Nations League remaining teams
C
8
8
Nations League remaining teams
8
Nations League remaining teams
Croatia &
Nations League remaining teams
L
9
9
Nations League remaining teams
9
Nations League remaining teams
Scotland &
Nations League remaining teams
C
10
10
Nations League remaining teams
10
Nations League remaining teams
Serbia
Nations League remaining teams
K
11
11
Nations League remaining teams
11
Nations League remaining teams
Hungary
Nations League remaining teams
F
12
12
Nations League remaining teams
12
Nations League remaining teams
Belgium &
Nations League remaining teams
J
13
13
Nations League remaining teams
13
Nations League remaining teams
Poland †
Nations League remaining teams
G
14
14
Nations League remaining teams
14
Nations League remaining teams
Israel
Nations League remaining teams
I
15
15
Nations League remaining teams
15
Nations League remaining teams
Switzerland &
Nations League remaining teams
B
16
16
Nations League remaining teams
16
Nations League remaining teams
Bosnia and Herzegovina †
Nations League remaining teams
H
| Nations League remaining teams | |||
| A | 5 | Italy † | I |
| 6 | Netherlands & | G | |
| 7 | Denmark † | C | |
| 8 | Croatia & | L | |
| 9 | Scotland & | C | |
| 10 | Serbia | K | |
| 11 | Hungary | F | |
| 12 | Belgium & | J | |
| 13 | Poland † | G | |
| 14 | Israel | I | |
| 15 | Switzerland & | B | |
| 16 | Bosnia and Herzegovina † | H | |
Semi-final seeding pots · Draw › Seeding
Pot 1
Pot 1
Seeded
Pot 1
Seeded
Pot 2
Unseeded
Pot 3
Unseeded
Pot 4 (UNL)
Italy (12)
Denmark (21)
Turkey (25)
Ukraine (28)
Italy (12)
Denmark (21)
Turkey (25)
Ukraine (28)
Seeded
Italy (12)
Denmark (21)
Turkey (25)
Ukraine (28)
Seeded
Poland (31)
Wales (32)
Czech Republic (44)
Slovakia (45)
Unseeded
Republic of Ireland (59)
Albania (63)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (71)
Kosovo (80)
Unseeded
Sweden (43; NL–34)
Romania (47; NL–33)
North Macedonia (65; NL–35)
Northern Ireland (69; NL–36)
| Seeded | Unseeded | ||
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 (UNL) |
| Italy (12) Denmark (21) Turkey (25) Ukraine (28) | Poland (31) Wales (32) Czech Republic (44) Slovakia (45) | Republic of Ireland (59) Albania (63) Bosnia and Herzegovina (71) Kosovo (80) | Sweden (43; NL–34) Romania (47; NL–33) North Macedonia (65; NL–35) Northern Ireland (69; NL–36) |
· Path A › Summary
Semi-finals
Semi-finals
Home team
Semi-finals
Italy
Italy
Home team
Italy
Score
2–0
Away team
Northern Ireland
Wales
Wales
Home team
Wales
Score
1–1 (a .) (2–4 p)
Away team
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Final
Final
Home team
Final
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Home team
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Score
1–1 (a .) (4–1 p)
Away team
Italy
| Home team | Score | Away team |
| Semi-finals | ||
| Italy | 2–0 | Northern Ireland |
| Wales | 1–1 (a .) (2–4 p) | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Final | ||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–1 (a .) (4–1 p) | Italy |
References
- The table lists teams down to the lowest-ranked team that could have potentially received a play-off spot (the team rank
- The Kosovo–Bosnia and Herzegovina prohibited clash was not possible due to both teams being in the same pot. Armenia–Aze
- CET (UTC+1) for the semi-finals (26 March), and CEST (UTC+2) for the finals (31 March 2026).
- Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine were required to play their home matches at neutral venues.
- UEFAhttps://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0282-185d513bd18e-32f59d9c7dea-1000/
- "Road to the FIFA World Cup 26 has begun"https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/road-to-world-cup-26-qualifiers-usa-canada-mexico/
- "CONMEBOL kick off journey of "great joy and happiness" to historic FIFA World Cup 2026, says FIFA President"https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/news/journey-to-historic-fifa-world-cup-2026-tm-kicks-off-in-south-america
- "UEFA Preliminary Competition for the FIFA World Cup 26 – Additional Competition Information"https://archive.org/download/draw-procedures-for-the-uefa-preliminary-draw-for-the-fifa-world-cup-26/UEFA_Preliminary_Competition_for_the_FIFA_World_Cup_26_Additional_Competition_Information.pdf
- "Regulations: FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Competition"https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/18d857c3ec3e64f8/original/FIFA-World-Cup-2026-Preliminary-Competition_EN.pdf
- "Interim overall rankings of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25"https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0296-1d23fb95a9bd-bede76ddffb3-1000/unlrankings.pdf
- "FIFA headquarters to host FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and European Play-Off draws"https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/media-releases/world-cup-26-play-off-tournament-uefa-draws-details
- "European play-off draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup"https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/029f-1f3b80561189-baf8ec42c5d1-1000/
- "European nations learn play-off opponents"https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/uefa-play-off-draw-result-outcome
- "FIFA Legends Karembeu, Materazzi and Dahlin named as assistants for FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament and European play-off draws"https://inside.fifa.com/organisation/news/materazzi-karembeu-dahlin-world-cup-2026-play-off-european-draws
- "Draw Procedures for the European Play-Off Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26"https://digitalhub.fifa.com/m/78e3dd1532a673f7/original/Draw-procedures-for-the-European-Play-Off-Draw-for-the-FIFA-World-Cup-26.pdf
- "FIFA Men's World Ranking: 19 November 2025"https://inside.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/men?dateId=id14933
- UEFAhttps://documents.uefa.com/r/Regulations-of-the-UEFA-Nations-League-2024/25-Online
- "World Cup 2026: European play-off draw"https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/news/029f-1f3f7e79688e-94b56302816c-1000/
- "European Qualifiers 2022–24 – Play-offs – Fixture List"https://archive.org/download/european-qualifiers-2024-26-play-offs-fixture-list/fifa-world-cup-2026-european-play-off-draw-results.pdf
- UEFA Circular Letterhttps://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0295-1cbfdd18b0a6-ea3ffb01f3ee-1000/20250106_circular_2025_02_en.zip