UEFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier Play-Off Live Scores

UEFA World Cup Qualification Explained

The UEFA qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026 kicked off in March 2025, with 54 national teams drawn into 12 groups of either four or five. The journey to the finals is intense, and the qualification system has evolved.

How UEFA Qualification Works

Under the current format, the winner of each of the 12 qualifying groups earns a direct ticket to the World Cup. However, for the teams finishing in second place, the dream is not over; they advance to a high-stakes play-off stage for a second chance to qualify.

The Play-Offs Explained

In total, 16 teams compete in the play-offs. This includes the 12 runners-up from the qualifying groups, plus four teams who earned a spot based on their performance in the UEFA Nations League. For this campaign, the Nations League spots were awarded to Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia, and Northern Ireland.

These 16 hopefuls are drawn into four separate play-off paths, each containing four teams. Each path consists of one-off semi-finals and a final, with the winner of each of the four paths securing a place at the World Cup. The semi-final draw for the current play-offs is as follows:

• Path A: Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina / Italy vs. Northern Ireland


• Path B: Poland vs. Albania / Ukraine vs. Sweden


• Path C: Slovakia vs. Kosovo / Turkey vs. Romania


• Path D: Czechia vs. Republic of Ireland / Denmark vs. North Macedonia

After failing to qualify for the last two tournaments, Italy undoubtedly have a huge motive to secure their place this time around. Meanwhile, 12 other European nations, including France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, have already booked their tickets to the finals, which begin on June 11th, 2026.

Upcoming Play-Off Fixtures

Here are some of the key fixtures to look out for in the upcoming play-off finals:

• Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy (31 MAR, 19:45)


• Czechia vs. Denmark (31 MAR, 19:45)


• Kosovo vs. Turkiye (31 MAR, 19:45)


• Sweden vs. Poland (31 MAR, 19:45)

At LiveScore, you can see the final World Cup Qualifiers: UEFA standings from the group stage, check the upcoming fixtures, and find all the stats you need to make informed predictions.

Frequently Asked Questions on World Cup Qualifiers: UEFA

How many teams participated in the World Cup Qualifiers: UEFA?

In total, 54 national teams participated in the UEFA World Cup qualifications, divided into 12 groups of either four or five teams.

How many teams from Europe directly qualified for the WC 2026?

The 12 winners of the qualification groups earned a direct spot at the finals. This list includes nations such as France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Croatia.

How many teams will get promoted to the World Cup through the play-offs?

Four teams will qualify from the play-offs. The stage features the 12 group runners-up and four teams who qualified via the Nations League, including nations like Turkey, Wales, Sweden, and Poland.