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sports14h ago
2026 World Cup playoffs: Who will claim the final six spots?
Espn.com and 2 more
- Eight European teams compete for four World Cup spots while a new intercontinental playoff in Mexico determines the remaining two berths, finalizing the 48-team field.
- Italy leads the European playoff hopes, aiming to avoid another World Cup miss after recent heartbreak and buoyed by a semifinal victory.
- Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy is a key European path match, continuing the high-stakes narrative for both sides.
- Sweden and Poland advance in Path B as Sweden’s semifinal push under coach Graham Potter shapes their World Cup hopes.
- Kosovo’s upset path, including a noted away win to Slovakia, sets the stage for a potential Turkish challenge in Pristina.
- Intercontinental playoff contenders Congo DR, Jamaica, Iraq and Bolivia advanced to the final-stage matchups, highlighting global diversity in the race for spots.
- The intercontinental playoffs are scheduled in Guadalajara and Monterrey, with decisive ties determining the last two World Cup berths.
- Canada, Mexico and the United States as co-hosts anchor the final participant list as European and intercontinental paths fill out the rest.
- The 2026 World Cup schedule runs June to July, with Azteca Stadium opening and MetLife Stadium hosting the final.
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