The qualification process for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup will conclude with a new intercontinental playoff tournament to determine the final six participating nations. According to FIFA's official format, the playoffs will feature one team from each continental confederation except UEFA (Europe), plus one additional team from the host confederation, CONCACAF.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in March 2026. The six teams will be drawn into two triple-header brackets, with the winners of each semifinal match advancing to a final. The victor of each bracket's final will earn a place in the World Cup, bringing the total field to 48 teams.
The specific nations participating in these playoffs have not yet been determined, as they will be the highest-ranked non-qualifying teams based on the FIFA World Rankings after their respective continental qualifying campaigns conclude. Therefore, mentions of specific nations like Ukraine, Italy, or New Caledonia in this context for the 2026 playoffs are currently speculative and unverified.
This playoff system replaces the traditional two-legged intercontinental ties, creating a centralized, mini-tournament to decide the last World Cup slots. The host cities or country for this playoff event have not been officially announced by FIFA as of March 2026.
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