This week, it will be revealed which teams will get their last chances to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Four matches will be played in the European playoffs, as well as two intercontinental matches, which will determine the holders of six spots for the upcoming event scheduled from June 11 to July 19 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The Italian national team, a four-time world champion, will face Northern Ireland in one of the semifinals, and a victory will secure their place in the final against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso noted that his players are under significant pressure, as they missed the last two World Cups.
Amidst this, battles are also underway for the historic debut of smaller national teams. New Caledonia and Suriname are striving to qualify for the World Cup for the first time. New Caledonia will play against Jamaica, while Suriname will face Bolivia. If these teams win, they will continue to compete with the DR Congo and Iraq for the two remaining spots at the championship. This stage of the qualifying tournament has every chance of being decisive in determining the final lineup of participants and potential sensational results.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off on June 11 at the famous "Azteca" stadium in Mexico City and conclude on July 19 at "MetLife Stadium" in New Jersey. So far, the tournament hosts — the USA, Canada, and Mexico — have secured their places, along with football giants such as Brazil, Argentina, England, France, and Japan. The anticipated playoff matches will conclude a long qualifying campaign and announce the names of all 48 teams that will compete for the world's top trophy.
