The World Cup playoffs are set to begin on Thursday, with 16 teams competing for four coveted European spots in the tournament scheduled to take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
In the opening round, Wales will host Bosnia-Herzegovina in one of the eight semi-finals, while Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will face Italy and the Czech Republic, respectively. The semi-finals are scheduled to kick off at 7:45 PM.
The playoffs consist of 16 teams: 12 that finished second in their World Cup qualifying groups and four best-ranked Nations League group winners. This knockout format will determine which teams will qualify for the prestigious tournament.
Each playoff path contains four teams, with one-legged semi-finals and finals. Wales and Northern Ireland have been drawn in the same play-off path, meaning at least one of them will not qualify for the World Cup.
The winner of the Wales vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match will face the winner of the Italy vs. Northern Ireland match for a chance to qualify. Similarly, the Republic of Ireland must overcome the Czech Republic and then the winner of the Denmark vs. North Macedonia match to secure their spot.
Wales, currently ranked 35th in FIFA standings, will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage against Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Italy, ranked 13th, will be a formidable opponent for Northern Ireland.
For the first time, 16 European teams will participate in the World Cup due to a 50% increase in the size of the tournament for 2026. This expansion has heightened the stakes for the playoffs, making each match crucial.
As anticipation builds, fans and players alike are eager to see which teams will emerge victorious and secure their place in the World Cup. The finals of the playoffs are scheduled for March 31, where the winners will join specific groups in the tournament.