Overview of the 2026 World Cup European Play-offs: Teams, Seeding, and Viewing Details

The European play-offs for the 2026 World Cup are set to be an exciting showdown, with 16 teams competing for just four coveted spots. While many of Europe’s representatives for the tournament have been established following the conclusion of the UEFA qualification phase, the final four teams will be determined in March 2026.

Next year, 16 teams will represent UEFA at the World Cup, which will take place across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Twelve teams have qualified automatically through the qualification phase, while four will advance via the play-off phase. This article outlines how the European play-offs will function, including essential details on seeding and information on where to watch the live draw.

**When is the World Cup 2026 Play-off Draw?**
The draw is scheduled for Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, November 20, 2025. It will follow the draw for the inter-continental play-off tournament, commencing at 12 noon GMT (7 am ET).

**Where to Watch the World Cup 2026 Play-offs Draw**
FIFA+ and the official FIFA website will stream the draws globally. Additionally, the federation’s official media partners will broadcast the event in their respective regions. In the United States, the draw will be available on the Fox (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) networks, both of which can also be streamed live via fubo. In the United Kingdom, BBC and ITV will share the broadcast rights, and the draw will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website.

**Which Teams are in the UEFA Play-offs for World Cup 2026?**
The play-offs will feature 16 teams, consisting of the 12 runners-up from the qualification groups and four top-ranked teams from the Nations League path. The second-placed teams are as follows:
– Slovakia (Group A)
– Kosovo (Group B)
– Denmark (Group C)
– Ukraine (Group D)
– Turkey (Group E)
– Ireland (Group F)
– Poland (Group G)
– Bosnia-Herzegovina (Group H)
– Italy (Group I)
– Wales (Group J)
– Albania (Group K)
– Czech Republic (Group L)

Additionally, the Nations League teams include Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, and North Macedonia.

**World Cup 2026 UEFA Play-offs Seeding Pots**
Teams will be organized into four seeding pots—two seeded and two unseeded—based on the FIFA World Ranking as of November 19, 2025. The 12 group runners-up from the qualification phase will be placed in pots one to three, while the four teams from the Nations League path will be allocated to pot four as unseeded teams. Each of the eight semi-finals will consist of a seeded team competing against an unseeded team, with Pot 1 teams pairing with Pot 4 teams and Pot 2 teams pairing with Pot 3 teams.

**Seeded Teams:**
– **Pot 1:** Italy, Denmark, Ukraine, Slovakia
– **Pot 2:** Poland, Wales, Turkey, Czech Republic

**Unseeded Teams:**
– **Pot 3:** Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo
– **Pot 4:** Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland

**How the World Cup 2026 European Play-offs Work**
The European play-offs will be divided into four paths—A, B, C, and D. Each path will consist of four teams drawn from the corresponding pots. Within each pathway, there will be two semi-finals, with the winners advancing to contest a final for a place at the 2026 World Cup. In each pathway, seeded teams will compete against unseeded teams in the semi-finals, following the aforementioned pot pairing methodology.

**When Will the World Cup 2026 European Play-offs Be Played?**
The play-off fixtures are as follows:
– **Semi-finals:** March 26, 2025
– **Finals:** March 31, 2025

The play-offs are set to take place in March 2026, determining the final European teams that will compete in the World Cup.