The final picture for the 2026 World Cup will become complete in March next year.
Following the November international window, we now know all but six of the teams who will take part in the tournament next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The remaining places will be filled by the winning teams at the two FIFA playoff tournaments: the UEFA version, and the intercontinental edition.
The Jugo Mobile breaks down everything you need to know about the 2026 intercontinental playoffs. This page will be updated once the draw is completed.
Which teams are in 2026 World Cup intercontinental playoffs?
There are six teams in total who qualified for the intercontinental playoffs: one each from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL and OFC confederations, and two from CONCACAF.
| Nation | Confederation | Qualified via | FIFA rank |
| Iraq | AFC | AFC playoff winner | 57 |
| DR Congo | CAF | CAF playoff winner | 60 |
| Jamaica | CONCACAF | Highest-ranking group runner-up | 68 |
| Suriname | CONCACAF | Second highest-ranking group runner-up | 126 |
| Bolivia | CONMEBOL | Seventh-place finisher | 76 |
| New Caledonia | OFC | Qualifying tournament runner-up | 150 |
Intercontinental playoff schedule, bracket
The schedule for the intercontinental playoffs will be determined at the draw on Thursday, November 20.
This page will be updated once the draw has been completed.
We do at least know that DR Congo and Iraq have received byes to the final of their respective pathways as the highest-ranked teams involved.
All games are expected to be staged in Mexico, at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.
Pathway 1
Semifinal
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
Final
| March 2026 | DR Congo vs. Semifinal winner | TBA |
Pathway 2
Semifinal
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
| March 2026 | TBD | TBA |
Final
| March 2026 | Iraq vs. Semifinal winner | TBA |
Which World Cup groups do playoff winners enter?
We do not yet know which groups the playoff winners will be assigned to, with the World Cup group-stage draw not taking place until December 5.
Given the ranking of the teams involved, the two that progress from the playoffs will likely be in Pot 4 for the draw, meaning they should expect to face some difficult opponents in the tournament proper.
FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoffs format
The structure of the FIFA World Cup playoff format has been simplified in recent qualification cycles.
Based on the amount of cross-continental travel, often in the middle of the domestic season for players, objections were raised with criticisms over unfair advantages to ‘stronger’ confederations.
FIFA had the intercontinental playoffs for 2022 played at a neutral venue in Qatar. Since the matches were played on neutral turf, they were completed across a single 90-minute game rather than two legs played home and away. Extra time and penalties were used, if necessary.
The only regional confederation without a spot in the intercontinental playoffs is Europe (UEFA), which has its own playoff tournament.
Intercontinental playoff qualifiers at the World Cup
The intercontinental playoffs structure has offered nations an additional route to the biggest competition in international football.
The majority of sides have bowed out in the group stages after reaching the tournament, but a shot at the World Cup has allowed fans from nations outside of the established elite the chance to be involved.
| Year | Qualified Nation(s) | Playoff Opponent | Result | World Cupstage reached |
| 1974 | Chile | Soviet Union | 2-0 on agg. | Group Stage |
| 1978 | Hungary | Bolivia | 9-2 on agg. | Group Stage |
| 1982 | — | — | — | — |
| 1986 | Scotland | Australia | 2-0 on agg. | Group Stage |
| 1990 | Colombia | Israel | 1-0 on agg. | Round of 16 |
| 1994 | Argentina | Australia | 2-1 on agg. | Round of 16 |
| 1998 | Iran | Australia | 3-3 on agg.(away goals) | Group Stage |
| 2002 | Rep of IrelandUruguay | IranAustralia | 2-1 on agg.3-1 on agg. | Round of 16Group Stage |
| 2006 | Trinidad & TobagoAustralia | BahrainUruguay | 2-1 on agg.1-1 on agg.(4-2 PKs) | Group StageRound of 16 |
| 2010 | New ZealandUruguay | BahrainCosta Rica | 1-0 on agg.2-1 on agg. | Group StageSemifinal |
| 2014 | UruguayMexico | JordanNew Zealand | 5-0 on agg.9-3 on agg. | Round of 16Round of 16 |
| 2018 | AustraliaPeru | HondurasNew Zealand | 3-1 on agg.2-0 on agg. | Group StageGroup Stage |
| 2022 | AustraliaCosta Rica | PeruNew Zealand | 0-0 (5-4 PKs)1-0 | Round of 16Group Stage |
History of FIFA intercontinental playoffs
FIFA introduced intercontinental playoffs into World Cup qualification cycles ahead of the 1974 tournament in West Germany.
However, the inaugural game was dogged by political controversy after the Soviet Union side refused to travel to Chile for the return leg in Santiago following a coup d’etat in the country, with the Chileans given a walkover into the competition.
Since then, the intercontinental playoff structure has been an ever-present part of World Cup qualifying with 1982 the only exception. The matchups changed from 1986 onwards.
UEFA vs. CONMEBOL was replaced by UEFA vs. OFC or CONMEBOL vs. OFC, before becoming a four-team set-up ahead of the 1994 World Cup, only for another temporary reversal ahead of France ’98.
