After the final matches of the group stage of the 2025 World Cup qualifying tournament were played yesterday, the lineup of 16 participants in the playoffs for the right to enter the final part of the World Cup was determined.
Representatives of this round are 12 teams that finished second in their groups of the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament, as well as the 4 best group winners of the Nations League 2024/25 who did not take first or second place in their 2026 World Cup qualifying group. These 16 teams will compete for the last 4 spots from Europe for the World Championship.
The playoff will consist of four paths with four teams each. In each «quartet,» semifinals and a final will be held, with the winner advancing to the World Cup.
Before the playoff draw, participants of this stage will be distributed into 4 pots, each containing 4 teams. The first three pots, in order according to the current FIFA ranking for national teams, will be filled by the 12 teams that reached the playoffs from second place in the 2026 World Cup qualifying tournament groups. The fourth pot is reserved for representatives of the Nations League.
Pots 1 and 2 will be «seeded.» Teams from Pot 1 will play against teams from Pot 4, and teams from Pot 2 will play against teams from Pot 3.
Composition of the Pots for the 2026 World Cup Qualifying Playoff Draw
Pot 1
Italy
Denmark
Turkey
UKRAINE
Pot 2
Poland
Wales
Slovakia
Czech Republic
Pot 3
Ireland
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Kosovo
Pot 4
Romania
North Macedonia
Sweden
Northern Ireland.
Thus, the possible opponents of the Ukrainian national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff are: North Macedonia, Romania, Sweden, and Northern Ireland.
Additionally, the playoff draw will take place this Thursday, November 20 (starting at 14:00 Kyiv time).
