World Cup 2026: six qualifying spots up for grabs in Tuesday’s play-offs

Six tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup remain up for grabs. The final qualifiers will be known this Tuesday, following the European and intercontinental play-offs. These last places are shared between four nations from the European zone and the two winners of the intercontinental play-off finals.

In Europe, several fixtures promise to be decisive. Kosovo will host Turkey, hoping to reach the first World Cup in its history. Italy, meanwhile, will need to get past Bosnia and Herzegovina to avoid a third consecutive absence from the world finals. Other matches to watch: Sweden face Poland, while the Czech Republic take on Denmark.

In the intercontinental play-offs, several nations are dreaming of a return to the world stage after long years away. Iraq, absent since 1986, the Democratic Republic of Congo (last appearance in 1974 under the name Zaire), Bolivia (1994) and Turkey (2002) are all hoping to end their long droughts. DR Congo will face Jamaica, while Iraq will take on Bolivia, with the last two tickets to the intercontinental play-offs on the line.