World Cup 2026 Play-off Finals: Italy Miss Out Again, DR Congo and Iraq End Long Absences
Tom Hancock
With 71 days to go until the World Cup 2026 kicks off, we now know the full list of 48 countries taking part in the tournament co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA.
Six play-off finals – four in the UEFA play-offs and two in the inter-confederation play-off tournament being held in Mexico – took place across Tuesday night and the early hours of Wednesday morning, deciding the final six qualifiers for the World Cup 2026.
Here’s our recap of all the action as a qualification process which began back in September 2023 reached its conclusion.
UEFA Play-offs
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 Italy (4-1 on Penalties)
Bosnia and Herzegovina will head to their second World Cup, while Italy became the first former winners to miss three consecutive editions of the tournament.
Moise Kean had given the Italians the lead in Zenica, but Allesandro Bastoni’s straight red card for a last-man foul shortly before half-time ultimately proved costly.
The hosts put the Azzurri firmly under the cosh from thereon and, despite the brilliance of Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, eventually got their reward when Haris Tabakovic scrambled home an equaliser 11 minutes from the end of normal time.
That set up extra time, which then led to a penalty shootout – in which Bosnia took four perfect spot-kicks and Italy saw both Francesco Esposito and Bryan Cristante fail to hit the target.
Bosnia and Herzegovina return the World Cup 12 years after their first appearance and will join Qatar, Switzerland and co-hosts Canada in Group B.
Sweden 3-2 Poland
Sweden reached the World Cup despite not winning a single game during the group stage of qualifying, coming out on top in a thriller against Poland.
Being given a chance to qualify through the play-offs by virtue of their Nations League position, the Swedes – who appointed Graham Potter as head coach last October – will be back at the finals after missing out in 2022.
Poland twice came from a goal down to equalise in Stockholm, but Viktor Gyokeres struck two minutes from time to clinch qualification in dramatic fashion.
Sweden will be in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia; Poland will be absent from the finals for the first time since 2014.
Kosovo 0-1 Turkiye
Kerem Akturkoglu’s second-half goal sent Turkiye to their first World Cup since 2002 – and only their third ever – crushing the dreams of underdogs Kosovo.
The Fenerbahce striker finished off a quick counter-attacking move as the Turks made it two 1-0 wins from two in the play-offs.
Vincenzo Montella’s side will face Paraguay, Australia and co-hosts the USA in Group D; Kosovo’s wait for a first-ever World Cup appearance will go on at least another four years.
Czech Republic 2-2 Denmark (3-1 on Penalties)
The Czech Republic will play at the World Cup for the first time in 20 years after seeing off Denmark on penalties.
Pavel Sulc put the hosts in front after just three minutes in Prague, but Joachim Andersen’s 72nd-minute header forced extra time – during which the Czechs led again through captain Ladislav Krejci, only for the Danes to peg them back once more, this time courtesy of substitute Kasper Waarts Hogh.
Penalties followed, and Matej Kovar’s save from Anders Dreyer and a Mathias Jensen miss proved decisive in the end.
It’s Group A alongside South Africa, South Korea and co-hosts Mexico for the Czech Republic, as Denmark failed to qualify for the first time since 2014.
Inter-confederation Play-offs
DR Congo 1-0 Jamaica (AET)
DR Congo will return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 – when they made their only previous appearance as Zaire – thanks to Axel Tuanzebe’s extra-time winner against Jamaica.
The Burnley defender produced the decisive moment 10 minutes into the additional period to end his nation’s long absence from the biggest stage of all and extend Jamaica’s wait for a second World Cup appearance to at least 32 years.
Sebastian Desabre’s Leopards will line up alongside Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K.
Iraq 2-1 Bolivia
Iraq have also qualified for their second-ever World Cup, their first since 1986, after they were victorious over Bolivia – who were looking to reach their first finals since 1994.
Luton Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi gave Iraq the lead inside 10 minutes, but Moises Paniagua’s equaliser made it 1-1 at half-time – only for skipper Ayman Hussein to win it five minutes into the second half.
The wonderfully nicknamed Lions of Mesopotamia will line up alongside France, Senegal and Norway in Group I.
