The cross-continental play-off system: next March, two teams ranked higher will enter the finals, and the remaining four teams will be in the semi-finals

South American World Cup qualifiers ended, Bolivia caught the last bus and won a quota for the intercontinental play-off in South America. In addition to Bolivia, Oceania's New Caledonia has also secured a playoff spot.

6 play-off quotas

World Cup Intercontinental Play-off will be held in March 2026. Two teams from Central and North America and the Caribbean, as well as one team from AFC, African Football Federation, South American Football Federation and Oceania Football Federation, a total of 6 teams will compete for the last two places in the 2026 World Cup. The

competition will be held at the International Match Day window from March 23 to 31, 2026.

Playout Rules

The six teams that qualify for the playoffs, the four lowest FIFA teams need to participate in the group semifinals first. The two highest ranking teams went straight to the finals. The winner of the final two group finals will advance to the 2026 US-Canada-Mexico World Cup.

The quota for play-offs of each continent belongs to

South American Football Federation (1): Bolivia

Ocean Football Federation (1): New Caledonia

AFC (1)

The Asian region has five rounds of qualifiers to determine eight places to directly advance to the World Cup, and the other team advances to the cross-continental play-offs. The 18 teams entering the third round were divided into three groups, each with six teams. The top two in each group advance to the 2026 World Cup. The fourth round was played by six teams ranked third and fourth in the third round group stage. These teams will be divided into two groups starting from October 2025, with three teams in each group, and the top spot in the group will go directly to the United States, Canada and Mexico. The fifth round will be home and away matches by the two teams ranked second in the fourth round of the group stage, and the winner will be eligible for the playoffs.

African Football Federation (1)

African District Qualifiers will be held in two rounds. The first round was a group stage, and due to Eritrea's withdrawal, it was divided into eight six teams and a five team group. The top players from nine groups advanced to the 2026 World Cup. The second round will be held by the second in the four best-resulting group and will then be held. The final winner of the second round will participate in the Intercontinental Play-offs. The 12 teams in the last round of the qualifiers were divided into three groups, each with four teams. Teams in each group will play a round-route home and away game. The top players in the three groups advanced directly to the World Cup and participated with hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States. The second in the two best-scoring group will win the Intercontinental play-offs.