The draw for the 2026 World Cup European qualifying playoffs took place on November 20, determining the semifinal pairings. The semifinal matches are scheduled for March 26.
The following pairings were drawn: Italy vs. Northern Ireland, Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine vs. Sweden, Poland vs. Albania, Turkey vs. Romania, Slovakia vs. Kosovo, Denmark vs. Northern Ireland, and Czech Republic vs. Ireland.
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, hosted by Canada, the USA, and Mexico. The reigning world champion is the Argentina national team. In the 2022 World Cup final, Lionel Scaloni's team defeated the then-current World Cup holders, the French (3-3, 4-2 on penalties).
