2026 World Cup Playoff Preview

With the 2026 World Cup less than three months away, 42 sets of players, coaches and fans are making their final preparations for the biggest six weeks in soccer. Yes, there will undoubtedly be nerves, but each team can at least sleep soundly knowing that, barring geopolitical issues, they will be playing in the US, Canada and Mexico come June 11.

The same cannot be said, however, for the 22 teams still battling it out for the six remaining qualifying spots. With four European places and two slots for the rest of the world still up for grabs, March 26-31 offers the last chance to join the party. With tiny nations still dreaming of their maiden World Cup appearance, and European juggernauts hoping to avoid complete embarrassment, emotions will no doubt be running high. These are the 10 Most Likely Playoff Teams to Qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Sweden

It is no exaggeration to say that Sweden’s last 18 months have been an unmitigated disaster. The team has not won a competitive match since November 2024 and fired manager Jon Dahl Tomasson in October last year after being beaten by an unfancied Kosovo side for the second time in five weeks. The loss of star striker Alexander Isak due to a broken leg has made the task of qualifying even harder. But, with Viktor Gyökeres, Anthony Elanga and Emil Forsberg, Sweden still has enough firepower to mean we cannot write off the Blågult just yet.

Wales

A decade on from the greatest year in Welsh soccer history — the nation’s remarkable run to the EURO 2016 semifinals — Wales’ golden generation has finally come to an end. The Dragons’ qualification for Qatar 2022 was their first appearance in a World Cup for 64 years, but Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen are now a distant memory. Nevertheless, a new generation — led by winger Harry Wilson — impressed in qualifying, finishing just two points behind Belgium. A potential final against Italy is the biggest obstacle standing between Wales and its second straight World Cup.

Czechia

It was always going to be a tough ask for Czechia to finish above Croatia in qualifying. The Nároďák suffered a 5-1 blowout defeat to Zlatko Dalić’s side in June, before a costly loss to the Faroe Islands erased whatever hope it had left of topping the group. Patrick Schick and Tomáš Souček are seasoned professionals who know what it takes to win a big game, but it would still be a surprise to see them beat both the Republic of Ireland and Denmark en route to a first qualification since 2006.

Ukraine

For obvious reasons, Ukraine would likely be one of the more popular teams in North America this summer. But, with top-level talent running throughout the squad, Serhiy Rebrov’s team is more than just a feelgood underdog story. Illia Zabarnyi joined Paris Saint-Germain for $76 million in the summer, Artem Dovbyk was the top scorer in LaLiga two seasons ago, and goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin even notched a remarkable last-minute winner for Benfica against Real Madrid in January. The only reason Ukraine is not higher on this list is…

Poland

Two words: Robert Lewandowski. The Barcelona striker may be 37 but, with 16 goals in 36 games this season, it’s clear he’s still got it. Poland’s captain has won almost everything there is to win at club level, but if there’s one regret he might have, it is that he has never progressed beyond the Round of 16 stage at the World Cup. The most likely outcome this month is that Poland will face Ukraine in a winner-takes-all showdown and, while the latter sits four places higher in the FIFA World Rankings, Lewandowski may feel he has unfinished business.

Iraq

Speaking of the FIFA World Rankings, Iraq lies a whopping 34 places behind Poland. And yet, due to the differences in the qualification format between Europe and the rest of the world, the so-called Lions of Mesopotamia only need to win one game — against one of Bolivia and Suriname — to progress. Head coach Graham Arnold took Australia all the way to the Round of 16 in Qatar four years ago, and Iraq would likely place even higher on this list were it not for the significant travel disruptions its players are experiencing as a result of the war in neighbouring Iran.

Türkiye

Türkiye is in the unusual position that, despite not even having qualified yet, it would probably be the best team in its group this summer. Should Vincenzo Montella’s side progress to the World Cup, it would find itself in a group with the USA, Paraguay and Australia. On top of that, the Crescent-Stars have also been handed what is arguably the easiest European qualifying playoff group too, with Slovakia the only other dangerous team. The likes of Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız and Barış Alper Yılmaz really should power Türkiye to its first World Cup since it finished third overall in 2002.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Much like Iraq, DR Congo is far from the best team in this list. Yet, like Iraq, it only has to win one game to qualify. The Leopards have a bit more star power, too, in Yoane Wissa, Chancel Mbemba and Cédric Bakambu. Mbemba in particular was decisive in the wins over Cameroon and Nigeria which got Congo this far, and with only one game against either Jamaica or New Caledonia remaining, the captain will fancy his chances of leading his nation to its first World Cup since 1974, when it was known as Zaire.

Denmark

Back in November, Denmark was just eight minutes plus stoppage time away from its third straight World Cup appearance. Two remarkable goals from Scotland’s Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean, respectively, denied the Danes their automatic qualification, but this team should still have more than enough quality to beat North Macedonia and either Czechia or the Republic of Ireland. Five years on from his on-field collapse at Euro 2020, Christian Eriksen would likely make the squad, and he would be joined by rising stars Rasmus Højlund and Patrick Dorgu.

Italy

Not qualifying in 2018 was bad. Failing to do so again in 2022 was worse. Missing out on a third straight World Cup — especially one which has now expanded to 48 teams — would be a catastrophe of near-volcanic proportions. Prior to its absence in Russia eight years ago, Italy had only failed to qualify once in 84 years. Now, the four-time champion will look to the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessandro Bastoni, and Nicolò Barella to help it avoid the ultimate ignominy. The calibre of the Italian squad is such, though, that it would still be a huge surprise not to see the Azzurri stateside this summer.