The draw is complete: here are the matchups

The final stage of qualification for the 2026 World Cup now has a clear path. FIFA conducted the draw for the Intercontinental Playoff, officially setting the clashes that will award the last two spots for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The first bracket will feature a Semifinal between New Caledonia and Jamaica. The winner will move on to face DR Congo, who advance directly to the Final thanks to their superior FIFA ranking.

On the other side of the draw, Bolivia will take on Suriname in the Semifinal. The winner will then meet Iraq, the highest-ranked team in the playoff field.

The confirmed brackets:

Bracket 1

• New Caledonia vs Jamaica
  ➡️ Winner faces DR Congo

Bracket 2

• Bolivia vs Suriname
  ➡️ Winner faces Iraq

How the intercontinental playoff will work

With the draw complete, the format remains unchanged. The six teams are divided into two three-team brackets, each featuring a Semifinal and a Final:

• The two lowest-ranked teams in each bracket meet in a Semifinal.
• The highest-ranked team (Iraq and DR Congo) automatically advance to the Final.
• All matches are played as single-leg eliminators.
• The winners of the two Finals will secure the final two World Cup berths.

No second legs. No safety net. Just one match — or extra time if needed — between each nation and a place at the World Cup.

Dates and host stadiums in Mexico

FIFA has confirmed the schedule:

• Semifinals: Monday, March 23
• Finals: Tuesday, March 31

All matches will be played in Mexico, spread across two World Cup venues:

• Estadio BBVA (Monterrey)
• Estadio Akron (Guadalajara)

With the draw now finalized and the brackets set, the countdown to the last two tickets begins. The pressure is immense, the margins tiny… and only two teams will survive to reach the 2026 World Cup.