16 European teams compete for 4 wildcard tickets to the 2026 World Cup

16 European teams that failed to qualify officially for the 2026 World Cup will have the opportunity to participate in the biggest football festival on the planet through play-off tickets.

Unable to get an official ticket to the 2026 World Cup, Poland will have to play a play-off - Photo: REUTERS

At the 2026 World Cup, Europe was allocated 16 places by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) organized the qualifying round, divided into 12 official places and 4 play-off places.

In the early morning of November 19, Europe has determined the 12 teams that have officially won tickets: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland. These are the 12 teams that have won the 12 groups of the 2026 World Cup qualifying round in Europe.

Thus, Europe still has 4 places to attend the 2026 World Cup and these teams will be revealed after the play-off round held in March 2026.

According to UEFA regulations, the European play-off round will be for the 12 second-placed teams in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the four top teams in the Nations League with the highest FIFA rankings (not included in the 24 first- and second-placed teams of the 12 groups).

According to this regulation, the 16 teams that will participate in the European play-off round will be Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo (12 second-placed teams) and 4 teams from the Nations League including Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, and Northern Ireland.

In the European play-off round, 16 teams will be divided into 4 seed groups. Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine in group 1. Group 2 includes Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia. Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo in group 3 and group 4 includes Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland.

From these four groups, UEFA will draw lots for the teams to play in a knockout format in the semi-finals and final. The four teams from seeds 1 to 4 will enter the same bracket. At the end of the play-off round, the four final winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/16-doi-chau-au-tranh-4-ve-vot-du-world-cup-2026-20251119061026091.htm