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The 12 teams still fighting for spots

From four-time champions Italy to aspiring first-timers Kosovo, these are the 12 teams still hoping to reach World Cup 2026.

Six teams will punch their World Cup 2026 tickets in March
Two sides will reach global showpiece via the FIFA Play-off Tournament
Four more qualifiers will emerge from the European play-offs

With less than 80 days to go, the excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ grows stronger. The results of the Final Draw in Washington DC back in December whetted the appetite for football fans everywhere, but there are still six spots to be decided.

Four qualifiers will come from the 16-team European play-offs and another two sides via the FIFA Play-off Tournament, which is taking place in World Cup 2026 Host Cities Guadalajara and Monterrey.

FIFA takes a look at the last hopefuls for this year’s big dance.

FIFA Play-off Tournament

Path 1: Winner advances to Group K with Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan

Congo DR

Congo DR are the sole representative from CAF in the FIFA Play-off Tournament, having eliminated African giants Cameroon and Nigeria in the CAF play-offs after a second-place finish in Group B of qualifying behind Senegal. The Leopards are seeking their first World Cup berth since 1974 and second appearance overall.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Jamaica (Guadalajara, final)

DR Congo players celebrate after defeating Nigeria and securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup during the 2026 World Cup Qualifier CAF Play-Offs football match between the Nigeria and RD Congo at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium, 16 November 2026. ©Nabil Ramdani/BackpagePix

Jamaica

The Reggae Boyz narrowly missed out on automatic qualification from Concacaf, finishing behind Curaçao in Group B of the final round. After seeing off New Caledonia in the Play-Off Tournament semi-final, another victory would earn Jamaica their second World Cup qualification and first since France 1998.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Congo DR (Guadalajara, final)

Path 2: Winner advances to Group I with France, Norway and Senegal

Iraq

Iraq’s hopes are still alive after they navigated their way past United Arab Emirates 3-2 on aggregate in the fifth round of AFC qualifying. The Lions of Mesopotamia are aiming for their second World Cup participation and first since Mexico 1986.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Bolivia (Monterrey, final)

Iraq's players celebrate their first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian qualifier football match between the United Arab Emirates and Iraq at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on November 13, 2025. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP) (Photo by FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)

Bolivia

By virtue of their seventh-place finish in CONMEBOL qualifying, Bolivia are in the mix for their first World Cup since USA 1994. The South Americans, who beat Suriname in the Play-Off Tournament semi-final, are targeting their fourth World Cup.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Iraq (Monterrey, final)

Moises Paniagua celebrates with teammate forward Miguel Terceros after scoring his team's first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers semi-final playoff football match between Bolivia and Suriname.

European play-offs

Path A: Winner advances to Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland

Italy

Italy finished six points off first-place Norway in Group I of UEFA qualifying, but a second chance awaits in the play-offs for Gennaro Gattuso's men. After missing out on the last two editions of the global showpiece, the four-time champions will be desperate to join the 48-team fray, and saw off Northern Ireland in their semi-final.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (Zenica, final)

BERGAMO, ITALY - MARCH 26: Moise Kean of Italy celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina earned their maiden World Cup appearance at Brazil 2014, but have yet to return. A strong performance in qualifying in Group H, followed by a hard-fought semi-final win over Wales in the play-off semi-finals, suggests that Bosnia and Herzegovina will be a tough nut for the Azzurri to crack.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Italy (Zenica, final)

CARDIFF, WALES - MARCH 26: Edin Dzeko of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-off match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Path B: Winner advances to Group F with Japan, Netherlands and Tunisia

Sweden

One of Sweden’s best performances was finishing third at USA 1994 and they would love another shot on US soil. If the Scandinavians can beat Poland, having seen off Ukraine in impressive style, the 1958 runners-up will qualify for a 13th World Cup.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Poland (Solna, final)

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres of Sweden celebrate 2-1 during the Nations League football match between Sweden and Slovakia on November 16, 2024 in Stockholm

Poland

Poland, who came from behind to defeat Albania in their semi-final, are on the hunt for a tenth World Cup appearance, with third-place in 1974 and 1982 serving as their best finishes. It would also be their third successive qualification.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Sweden (Solna, final)

WARSAW, POLAND - MARCH 26: Robert Lewandowski of Poland celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Poland and Albania at PGE Narodowy on March 26, 2026 in Warsaw, Poland. (Photo by Adam Nurkiewicz - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Path C: Winner advances to Group D with Australia, Paraguay and USA

Türkiye

Incredibly, Türkiye have not been in the World Cup since their memorable third-place finish at Korea/Japan 2002. A new generation of players is targeting a return in what would be their third appearance, with Romania defeated to reach this stage.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Kosovo (Pristina, final)

ISTANBUL, TURKEY - MARCH 26: (L-R) Ferdi Kadioglu of Turkey, Arda Guler of Turkey celebrating the victory during the World Cup Qualifier match between Turkey v Romania at the Tupras Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Istanbul Turkey (Photo by Gerrit van Keulen/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Kosovo

Winning Path C would yield a first World Cup qualification for Kosovo, who enjoyed a second-place finish in Group B of qualifying, before beating Slovakia in their play-off semi-final.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Türkiye (Pristina, final)

PRISTINA - KOSOVO - SEPTEMBER 8: Elvis Rexhbecaj (6) of Kosovo celebrates after score a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup European Qualifiers Group B second match between Kosovo and Sweden at Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo on September 8, 2025. (Photo by Erkin Keci/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Path D: Winner advances to Group A with Korea Republic, Mexico and South Africa

Denmark

Automatic qualification slipped through Denmark’s fingers with a late loss to Scotland on the final day of qualifying, but hope for a seventh World Cup remains. An impressive win over North Macedonia in their play-off semi-final has, however, boosted hopes of a third consecutive appearance.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Czechia (Prague , final)

Denmark's Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Højlund celebrate their teams fourth goal during Semi-final FIFA World Cup Qualification: Denmark and North Macedonia at Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark on March 26 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Czechia

Runners-up in 1934 and 1962, Czechia would qualify for a tenth World Cup if they can emerge from the Path D fray, having edged out Republic of Ireland on penalties. It would be their first extravaganza since Germany 2006.

Route to FIFA World Cup 2026:
31 March: vs Denmark (Prague, final)

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC - MARCH 26: Ladislav Krejci of Czechia celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena on March 26, 2026 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)