OFFICIAL: World Cup Intercontinental Playoff Draw has been announced

The draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-offs was held at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, where six teams will compete for two World Cup spots, with French football star Karembeu serving as the draw guest for the intercontinental play-offs.

Intercontinental Playoff Draw Matchups

Semifinal Match 1

New Caledonia vs Jamaica

Winner vs Democratic Republic of the Congo

Semifinal Match 2

Bolivia vs Suriname 

Winner vs Iraq

Participating Teams

(*The number in parentheses is the latest world ranking*)

Africa: Democratic Republic of the Congo (56/seeded team)

Asia: Iraq (58/seeded team)

South America: Bolivia (76)

North and Central America: Jamaica (70), Suriname (123)

Oceania: New Caledonia (149)

Playoff Rules

The six teams participating in the intercontinental play-off will be divided into two paths, with seeding based on the latest world rankings. The two teams with higher world rankings, DR Congo and Iraq, will directly advance to the final, while the other four teams will first play a single-elimination match (Jamaica and Suriname will avoid each other). The winners will then play a single-elimination match against the two seeded teams to directly compete for two World Cup spots. 

The intercontinental play-offs will be held during the international match days from March 23 to 31, 2026. FIFA has confirmed that the intercontinental play-off matches will be uniformly held in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico. 

All playoff matches are single-leg knockout games. If the score is tied after 90 minutes, extra time will be played, and if the score remains tied after extra time, a penalty shootout will follow.