With just over two months to go until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, six tournament spots remain up for grabs - and 12 nations remain in the race to complete the lineup. The final tickets to North America will be stamped today, when the UEFA and inter-confederation playoff finals take place.

Among the most notable matchups in prospect, four-time world champions Italy can end a 12-year absence from the finals in Zenica, where they visit Bosnia and Herzegovina. Europe’s four playoff finals will also see Kosovo seek to clinch a maiden World Cup berth.

The two inter-confederation finals, meanwhile, feature four teams that, like the Italians, are all bidding to end lengthy World Cup qualification droughts. The longest belongs to D.R. Congo, who have not been to the tournament since 1974, when they competed as Zaire.

World Cup qualifying playoff finals - matchups, times, how to watch:

UEFA playoff finals: Tuesday, Mar. 31

Path A: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy

• 2:45 p.m. ET - Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Watch: Fox Sports 1, fubo, ViX, Fox One

Path B: Sweden vs Poland

• 2:45 p.m. ET - Nationalarenan, Solna, Sweden
• Watch: fubo, ViX

Path C: Kosovo vs Türkiye

• 2:45 p.m. ET - Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina, Kosovo
• Watch: Fox Sports 2, fubo, ViX, Fox One

Path D: Czechia vs Denmark

• 2:45 p.m. ET - Stadion Letná, Prague, Czechia
• Watch: fubo, ViX

Inter-confederation playoff finals: Tuesday, Mar. 31

Path 1: D.R. Congo vs Jamaica

• 5:00 p.m. ET - Estadio Akron, Guadalajara, Mexico
• Watch: Fox Sports 1, fubo, Peacock, Fox One, Telemundo Deportes Ahora

Path 2: Iraq vs Bolivia

• 11:00 p.m. ET - Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico
• Watch: Fox Sports 1, fubo, Peacock, Fox One, Telemundo Deportes Ahora

2026 World Cup qualification playoff finals - the format:

As was also the case in last week’s playoff semifinals, all six finals will be single-leg knockout ties. If the scores are level after the regulation 90 minutes, 30 minutes of extra time will be played. If the teams still can’t be separated, the tie will be settled by a penalty shootout.

Which World Cup groups will the playoff winners go into?

• Bosnia and Herzegovina/Italy: Group B, with Canada, Switzerland and Qatar
• Sweden/Poland: Group F, with Japan, the Netherlands and Tunisia
• Kosovo/Türkiye: Group D, with Australia, Paraguay and the U.S.
• Czechia/Denmark: Group A, with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea
• DR Congo/Jamaica: Group K, with Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan
• Iraq/Bolivia: Group I, with France, Norway and Senegal

When does the World Cup kick off?

Co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico, the 2026 World Cup begins on June 11. In the tournament’s opening game, the Mexicans take on South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, in a Group A clash that kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET/12 noon PT.

The 23rd edition of the World Cup, this summer’s event reaches its climax on July 19, when MetLife Stadium stages the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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