Europe’s Final Push to the 2026 World Cup Takes Shape After Playoff Draw
The European playoff draw for the 2026 World Cup took place in Zurich and immediately stirred attention, especially with the pairing of Italy and Northern Ireland in the Path A semifinal. The ceremony not only laid out the playoff brackets but also included the intercontinental draw, with two former stars helping guide the process. The stakes are high, as this round will determine the remaining European spots for the tournament.
This year’s playoff involves sixteen teams: a dozen group-stage runners-up and four additional sides that earned their places through the Nations League. They were spread across four pots, with the Nations League representatives grouped in Pot 4. The format breaks the contenders into four paths, each functioning like a mini knockout tournament consisting of a semifinal and a final.
The structure gives hosting rights in the semifinal to teams in Pot 1 and Pot 2, producing matchups between Pot 1 and Pot 4, as well as Pot 2 and Pot 3. For Italy, the draw represents another attempt to move past a difficult playoff history, having fallen short in the last two World Cup cycles. Under Gennaro Gattuso, the current squad enters from Pot 1 and avoided a repeat meeting with the teams that previously derailed their campaigns.
Italy’s semifinal against Northern Ireland sets the tone for Path A, with the winner moving on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final. The semifinal is slated for 26 March 2026, followed by the path final five days later. Only the champion of each path will secure a place in the 2026 World Cup, making every matchup crucial for teams hoping to reach the global stage.
2026 World Cup European Zone Playoff Draw Results
Path A
• Semifinal 1: Italy vs. Northern Ireland (Away)
• Semifinal 2: Wales vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina (Home)
Path B
• Semifinal 3: Ukraine vs. Sweden (Home)
• Semifinal 4: Poland vs. Albania (Away)
Path C
• Semifinal 5: Turkey vs. Romania (Away)
• Semifinal 6: Slovakia vs. Kosovo (Home)
Path D
• Semifinal 7: Denmark vs. North Macedonia
• Semifinal 8: Czech Republic vs. Republic of Ireland
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