The journey to the historic FIFA World Cup 2026™ will take a decisive turn on Thursday, 20 November 2025, when the draws for both the FIFA World Cup Play-Off Tournament and the European Play-Offs are conducted at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland.
These draws will determine the final pathways for 22 nations still vying for a place at the first-ever 48-team World Cup, set to be staged across Canada, Mexico, and the United States from 11 June to 19 July 2026.
Defining the Final Routes
The back-to-back draws will begin with the Play-Off Tournament at 13:00 CET, followed immediately by the European Play-Off draw. Six nations will compete in the global Play-Off Tournament, while 16 teams will battle through Europe’s play-off system. Together, they will complete the list of participants for the 23rd edition of the FIFA World Cup.
The timing of the draws is significant, coming just two days after the close of the November 2025 international match window. That window is expected to be action-packed, as confederation qualifiers continue to shape the list of teams heading to North America.
Already, 28 nations have secured their spots, while another 14 — three from Concacaf and 11 from UEFA — are set to confirm qualification this month.
Play-Off Tournament Format
The six-nation FIFA Play-Off Tournament will bring together teams from across the globe. Bolivia (CONMEBOL) and New Caledonia (OFC) have already booked their places, with the remaining slots to be filled by representatives from AFC, CAF, and Concacaf. Matches will be staged during the international window from 23 to 31 March 2026.
The format will feature two semi-finals involving unseeded teams, with winners advancing to face the two seeded sides in finals. The victors of those finals will claim the last two coveted tickets to the World Cup.
European Play-Offs: Four Spots at Stake
Europe’s play-off system will involve 12 group runners-up from UEFA qualifying and the four best-ranked UEFA Nations League section winners. These 16 teams will be drawn into four paths, each containing four nations.
Single-leg semi-finals will be followed by single-leg finals, with the winners of each path securing Europe’s final four places at the tournament.
To ensure fairness and transparency, FIFA will publish the next edition of the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking on 19 November 2025, providing the basis for seeding and draw procedures.
Fans worldwide will be able to follow the draws live on FIFA.com, FIFA+, and through FIFA’s media partners. Additional broadcast details will be announced in due course, ensuring global audiences can witness the moment when the last pieces of the World Cup puzzle fall into place.
