FIFA sets November 20 date for 2026 qualification draw

The final routes to the expanded FIFA World Cup 2026 will be decided later this month when FIFA stages both the Play-Off Tournament draw and the European Play-Off draw at its Zurich headquarters on November 20.

The double draw will outline how the last six qualification spots for next year’s tournament will be filled – two via the intercontinental play-offs and four through UEFA’s final round of qualifiers.

Both draws will be streamed live with proceedings starting at 13:00 CET. The deciding qualification matches will be played 26-31 March 2026.

The FIFA Play-Off Tournament will feature six nations competing for the final two places at the newly-expanded 48-team World Cup, to be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States from June 11 to July 19 next year.

Two seeded nations will await the winners of semi-finals contested by four unseeded teams, with the victors of those finals earning a ticket to North America.

Bolivia and New Caledonia are already confirmed to participate, while the current November international window will finally place a name to the final four teams from AFC, CAF, and Concacaf regions.

The European Play-Off draw will map out the final qualification routes for 16 UEFA nations, comprising 12 group runners-up from the main qualifying phase and four Nations League section winners.

Those teams will be split into four play-off paths of four teams each, with single-leg semi-finals and finals deciding Europe’s last four World Cup participants.

By the time the draws take place In two weeks’ time, 28 teams will have already secured qualification, with another 14 set to secure their places during this month’s confederation qualifying rounds – three from Concacaf and 11 from UEFA.