Last four FIFA World Cup 2026 spots decided in high-stakes Semi-Finals
FIFA
Abdullateef Fowewe
The road to the final four European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set for an intense battle.
On 26 March 2026, eight single-leg semi-finals will determine who advances to the path finals five days later.
Only four teams will join the 12 already qualified from the United States, Canada, and Mexico next summer.
The draw produced captivating matchups:
Path A: Italy vs Northern Ireland, Poland vs Albania
Path B: Slovakia vs Kosovo, Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Path C: Wales vs Bosnia & Herzegovina, Ukraine vs Sweden
Path D: Turkey vs Romania, Denmark vs North Macedonia
Italy, four-time world champions, host Northern Ireland in a tense and emotional fixture, as the Azzurri aim to end the sting of missing the last two tournaments.
Ukraine’s match against Sweden takes on added significance amid ongoing conflict, while Wales-Bosnia and Turkey-Romania renew strong regional rivalries.
Pot 1 and 2 seeded teams (Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Wales, Denmark) have home advantage in the semi-finals, as underdogs like Northern Ireland, Sweden, and Romania seek to cause major upsets.
With just one match to keep their World Cup dreams alive, European teams will be battling fiercely in March 2026 — a month already eagerly anticipated across the continent.
