The final four European qualifiers for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup were decided through a playoff tournament held on March 31, 2026. The eight participating teams, who had finished as runners-up in their respective qualifying groups, competed in four single-leg semi-finals and finals to secure their places in the tournament.
According to FIFA and UEFA schedules, the matches determined the last European nations to join the 16 teams that had already qualified directly from the group stage. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams for the first time.
The playoff format, established by UEFA, provided a final chance for national teams to reach the global tournament. The results from these decisive matches finalized the list of European participants set to compete in North America during the summer of 2026.
