Decisive qualification matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The final stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification process is underway, with the full list of 48 participating teams set to be finalized by April 1. The tournament, scheduled from June 11 to July 19, will be hosted jointly by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. European play-offs feature several key matchups, including Italy facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica, and Sweden hosting Poland in Stockholm. Other European qualifiers involve teams such as Turkey, Romania, Denmark, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Ireland. Intercontinental play-offs are also proceeding, with Jamaica set to face the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Bolivia will compete against Iraq. Each match determines the final six spots for the tournament, with participants determined by previous playoff victories. Italy, led by manager Gennaro Gattuso, aims to secure its place after missing the previous two editions. These high-stakes games follow earlier rounds where teams such as Northern Ireland, Wales, and Ukraine were eliminated.