FIFA World Cup 2026: MLS guide to March's last-chance qualifiers

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The final spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided during the March international window, determining which six nations complete this summer's 48-team field.

The remaining berths are determined via the Intercontinental Playoffs (two spots) and UEFA Playoffs (four spots). Semifinals will be played on March 26, followed by the finals on March 31.

These last-chance qualifiers will feature nine MLS players spanning eight countries and eight clubs.

The groups are locked in for the 2026 @FIFAWorldCup. 🔒 pic.twitter.com/iVNQwmdsP0

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) December 5, 2025

Intercontinental Playoffs: MLS players

Three MLS players will feature in this pathway, which grants two tickets to the World Cup.

Bolivia

• Efraín Morales: CF Montréal, Defender

Jamaica

• Andre Blake: Philadelphia Union, Goalkeeper
• Ian Fray: Inter Miami CF, Defender

Read more:Andre Blake & Jamaica seek World Cup ticket

UEFA Playoffs: MLS players

Six MLS players will feature in this pathway, which provides four spots at the World Cup.

Albania

• Myrto Uzuni: Austin FC, Forward

Czechia

• Pavel Bucha: FC Cincinnati, Midfielder

Denmark

• Anders Dreyer: San Diego FC, Forward

North Macedonia

• Danny Musovski: Seattle Sounders FC, Forward

Sweden

• Herman Johansson: FC Dallas, Defender/Midfielder

Ukraine

• Oleksandr Svatok: Austin FC, Defender

Read more:Anders Dreyer chases World Cup dream with Denmark

European Playoffs: What to know

Format

Sixteen (16) teams that advanced past the first round of European (UEFA) qualifying were drawn, via seeding pots, into four groups of four.

Each group features two single-leg semifinals, with the semifinal winners advancing to a single-leg final. The winners of each of the four UEFA playoff pathways advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Pathway A

Semifinals

• March 26: Wales vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina
• March 26: Italy vs. Northern Ireland

Final

• March 31: Wales vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina winner HOSTSItaly vs. Northern Ireland winner

Winner joins Group B at the World Cup alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

Pathway B

Semifinals

• March 26: Ukraine vs. Sweden
• March 26: Poland vs. Albania

Final

• March 31: Ukraine vs. Sweden winner HOSTSPoland vs. Albania winner

Winner joins Group F at the World Cup alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.

Pathway C

Semifinals

• March 26: Slovakia vs. Kosovo
• March 26: Türkiye vs. Romania

Final

• March 31: Slovakia vs. Kosovo winner HOSTSTürkiye vs. Romania winner

Winner joins Group D at the World Cup alongside the United States, Australia and Paraguay.

Pathway D

Semifinals

• March 26: Czechia vs. Ireland
• March 26: Denmark vs. North Macedonia

Final

• March 31: Czechia vs. Ireland winner HOSTSDenmark vs. North Macedonia winner

Winner joins Group A at the World Cup alongside Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

The European Play-Offs for the #FIFAWorldCup 🌍

Which four are headed to #WeAre26? 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ssnMXLRgYB

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2025

Intercontinental Playoffs: What to know

Format

This play-in tournament features six teams: one from Asia, Africa, South America and Oceania, plus two from Concacaf. There are no European teams in the Intercontinental Playoffs.

The six teams are divided into two groups of three, with the lower-ranked teams facing off in the semifinals and the two higher-ranked teams receiving byes to their respective finals.

The semifinal winners will advance to the single-elimination final. The winner of the final advances to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

These matches will all be held at neutral venues in Mexico.

Pathway A

Semifinal

• March 26: New Calendonia vs. Jamaica

Final

• March 31: New Calendonia vs. Jamaica winner vs. DR Congo

Winner joins Group K at the World Cup alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.

Playoff Pathway B

Semifinal

• March 26: Bolivia vs. Suriname

Final

• March 31: Bolivia vs. Suriname winner vs. Iraq

Winner joins Group I at the World Cup alongside France, Senegal and Norway.

Your matchups for the FIFA World Cup 26 Play-Off Tournament! 🆚

Which two are headed to 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸? pic.twitter.com/5cYxcvFjnT

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 20, 2025

World Cup need to know

• World Cup guide
• World Cup schedule
• World Cup format
• World Cup stadiums
• How every team qualified for the World Cup

• World Cup
• Essentials

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