The 2026 FIFA World Cup play-off draw has been confirmed, setting up high-stakes clashes in Europe as teams compete for a place in the tournament co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Wales will host Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Northern Ireland face a daunting trip to Italy in the semi-finals of the European play-offs.
The winners of these semi-finals will meet in a one-legged final, with home advantage determined by the draw. For Wales, the winner will host the final, giving them a potential home advantage in their quest for a second consecutive World Cup qualification.
Play-Off Format and Dates
- Semi-finals: 26 March 2026
- Finals: 31 March 2026
- All matches are single-leg ties
- Total European play-off teams: 16 competing for four World Cup spots
The draw, conducted in Switzerland, grouped teams into four paths:
Path A:
- Italy vs Northern Ireland
- Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina* (*winner hosts final)
Path B:
- Ukraine vs Sweden*
- Poland vs Albania
Path C:
- Turkey vs Romania
- Slovakia vs Kosovo*
Path D:
- Denmark vs North Macedonia
- Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland*
Additionally, the Republic of Ireland will face the Czech Republic, with a potential home final against Denmark or North Macedonia.
Twelve of the 16 European teams reached the play-offs by finishing second in their World Cup qualifying groups, while four teams, including Northern Ireland, qualified through the Nations League. The draw also determined the paths to the final and which teams would enjoy home advantage.
Wales’ Play-Off Prospects
According to BBC Sport Wales, this is a favourable draw for Wales, who have once again secured home advantage in the semi-final. Since the introduction of single-leg play-off ties, Wales have played all four of their matches at Cardiff City Stadium. By March 2026, that could extend to six out of six home fixtures.
Wales’ semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina is rich in history. Cardiff previously hosted Bosnia during Euro 2016 qualification, marking Wales’ return to a major tournament after 58 years. Should they progress, a potential final could pit them against Italy, who last visited Cardiff in 2002, suffering a 2-1 defeat with Craig Bellamy, now Wales’ head coach, scoring the winning goal. Gennaro Gattuso, Italy’s current manager, appeared as a substitute in that match.
Although Italy are four-time World Cup winners and the highest-ranked nation in the play-offs, Wales will be confident of a second successive World Cup qualification, aiming for only the third in their history.
Northern Ireland Face Historic Challenges
Northern Ireland’s semi-final draw could hardly be tougher. They have played Italy 11 times historically, winning only once in 1958—a result that helped them qualify for that year’s World Cup in Sweden. Michael O’Neill’s squad faces a significant uphill battle, and even a victory in Italy would likely mean another challenging away fixture in the final against Wales or Bosnia.
FIFA rankings underscore the difficulty of Northern Ireland’s path, marking this as potentially the most challenging draw they could have received.
Intercontinental Play-Offs
The intercontinental play-offs, to be held in Mexico during the international break in late March 2026, will see six teams competing for two World Cup spots.
- Semi-final: New Caledonia vs Jamaica
- Final: DR Congo vs New Caledonia/Jamaica
- Semi-final: Bolivia vs Suriname
- Final: Iraq vs Bolivia/Suriname
The format ensures that the highest-seeded teams, DR Congo and Iraq, enter at the final stage, while the lower-ranked teams compete in semis for a chance to advance.
Key Dates to Remember
- European semi-finals: 26 March 2026
- European finals: 31 March 2026
- World Cup draw: 5 December 2025, Washington DC
Analysis
- Wales: Favourable home draws historically; confident against Bosnia; potential final at home against Italy.
- Northern Ireland: Toughest draw historically; must travel to Italy; potential away final against Wales or Bosnia.
- Play-off structure: Single-leg matches add unpredictability; home advantage could be crucial.
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