Your Ultimate Guide to the 2026 World Cup Inter-Confederation Playoff Draw: Essential Details, Teams, Timings, and Live Streaming Info!

The 2026 World Cup is nearing, with the final draw scheduled for December 5 in Washington, DC. Currently, not all teams have qualified for this prestigious soccer tournament, which will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year. So far, 42 teams are in contention, with four European teams expected to secure their spots through playoffs in March 2026. Additionally, two non-European spots will be finalized in an inter-federation playoff. Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming draw.

Confirmed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are Portugal and Germany, along with spots guaranteed for Haiti, Curacao, and Panama.

By Francesco Porzio

How to Watch

• Date: November 20th (Thursday) | Time: 7 a.m. ET
• Location: Headquarters 5, Zurich
• TV: FS1 | Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Teams Qualified for the World Cup

Here’s a list of the 42 teams already preparing for the 2026 World Cup. As the tournament will be co-hosted by three nations, they receive automatic qualification.

World Cup Hosts: USA, Mexico, Canada

AFC Qualifiers: Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

Concacaf Qualifiers: Haiti, Curacao, Panama

OFC Qualifier: New Zealand

CONMEBOL Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay

CAF Qualifiers: Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana, Cape Verde, Algeria, South Africa, Senegal, Ivory Coast

UEFA Qualifiers: England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, Austria, Belgium

Teams in the Inter-Confederation Playoffs

Six teams will compete in the inter-confederation playoffs, featuring nations from various confederations outside Europe. Additionally, 16 European teams will vie for the last four slots in the European playoffs, with the draw also occurring on Thursday. The final two spots will be determined through an inter-confederation playoff, finalizing the 48 teams for the tournament. Here are the six teams in Thursday’s draw:

AFC: Iraq

CONMEBOL: Bolivia

CAF: Democratic Republic of the Congo

CONCACAF: Jamaica, Suriname

OFC: New Caledonia

How Does it Work?

In the format for the inter-confederation playoffs, the six teams will be split into two groups of three. The bottom two teams from each group will meet in the semifinals, with the winners advancing to face the top-seeded teams in the finals. Each final will see the winner claim one of the two remaining World Cup spots. Draw pairings will be decided on Thursday, with all matches played in a single elimination format. Let’s review the current FIFA rankings.

• Top Seeded Teams: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Iraq
• Unseeded Teams: Jamaica, Bolivia, New Caledonia, Suriname

When Will the Playoffs Occur?

The inter-confederation playoffs are slated for March 23-31, although specific dates are yet to be confirmed. All four matches will occur in Mexico, held across two World Cup venues: Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, with two matches at each location. Both stadiums will also host games during the 2026 World Cup next summer.

Expected Pot Sizes for the 2026 World Cup

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled for December 5 at 12 PM ET at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. Below are the anticipated draw pots following the November international break, with FIFA expected to announce them officially soon.