March 31, 2026, is a historic day for world football. While the European play-off finals are being played, the last intercontinental tickets are being decided in Mexico. Today, the eyes of the football world are focused on high-stakes matches such as Iraq vs Bolivia at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey, and the four UEFA finals that will award the final European places for the World Cup.

Europe has 16 spots for the 2026 World Cup. Twelve are given directly to the winners of each of the 12 qualifying groups, while the remaining four places are decided in the European play-offs (UEFA Second Round). This mini-tournament includes 16 teams: the 12 runners-up from the groups plus the four best teams from the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that did not qualify directly. These 16 nations are divided into four Paths (A, B, C, and D), with four teams in each.

The format is pure single-match knockout. The semi-finals were played on March 26, 2026, where the highest-ranked teams according to the FIFA Ranking had home advantage. Today, March 31, the finals are taking place, all scheduled for 20:45 CET. The winner of each Path secures a ticket to the World Cup after winning two matches in a row. There is no room for error — a single defeat ends the World Cup dream.

Today’s finals are as follows: In Path A, Bosnia and Herzegovina host Italy in Zenica; in Path B, Sweden face Poland in Solna; in Path C, Kosovo play Turkey in Pristina; and in Path D, Czechia take on Denmark in Prague. Powerhouses like Italy and Denmark are fighting to seal their qualification, while nations like Turkey or Poland are dreaming of a big upset. The winner of each path will join already defined groups in the World Cup.

The intercontinental play-off has a brand-new format for 2026. Six teams are competing for two spots in a neutral tournament held entirely in Mexico (Guadalajara and Monterrey). The two highest-ranked teams (Iraq and DR Congo) received a direct bye to the final of their bracket. The other four teams played semi-finals on March 26, and today the two bracket finals are being decided in a single-elimination format. If the match is tied, extra time will be played (with a sixth substitution allowed), and if still level, it goes to penalties.

In one of the brackets, Bolivia defeated Suriname in the semi-final and today face Iraq in Monterrey. The winner will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup, most likely joining Group I alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. All matches are do-or-die and are decided in just one game.

These play-offs represent the last chance for teams that came very close to qualifying directly. In Europe, it means that historic powerhouses must fight hard in high-pressure matches. In the intercontinental tournament, very different styles and rankings are mixed, creating unpredictable and exciting games. By the end of today, the 2026 World Cup — the largest in history with 48 teams — will be fully defined with four new European qualifiers and two intercontinental teams.