For 16 European countries, the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup just became crystal clear as the official playoff draw is now set.
With four spots up for grabs and the World Cup odds already shifting, this playoff round is primed to deliver major drama, from heavyweights like Italy to ambitious minnows such as Albania, all fighting for the same dream.
Here’s a full breakdown of the draw, the latest odds, and some early predictions on who’s most likely to punch their ticket to next summer’s North American spectacle.
Current FIFA World Cup odds 2026
| Country |  |
|---|---|
 Spain |
+400 |
 England |
+600 |
 France |
+650 |
 Brazil |
+750 |
 Argentina |
+800 |
 Portugal |
+1100 |
 Germany |
+1200 |
 Netherlands |
+1600 |
 Norway |
+2500 |
 Italy |
+3300 |
 Colombia |
+3300 |
 Belgium |
+4000 |
 Uruguay |
+4000 |
 Mexico |
+6600 |
 Croatia |
+6600 |
 USA |
+6600 |
 Morocco |
+6600 |
 Ecuador |
+6600 |
 Denmark |
+8000 |
 Japan |
+8000 |
 Switzerland |
+10000 |
 Sweden |
+10000 |
 Canada |
+15000 |
Odds as of 11-20.
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How the 2026 World Cup playoffs work
The 2026 World Cup playoffs determine the final qualifiers for the tournament through a series of single-elimination ties split across four paths. Understanding the format is key before betting on World Cup playoff odds or To Qualify markets.
- Number of playoff teams: 16 nations enter the UEFA Play-offs, competing for the final four European spots at the 2026 World Cup.
- Four paths: The bracket is divided into Path A, Path B, Path C, and Path D
- Format: Each path contains two semifinals and one final. Semifinals are seeded:
— Pot 1 hosts Pot 4
— Pot 2 hosts Pot 3
— The winners of each semifinal advance to their path final, and the winner of that final qualifies for the World Cup. - Match dates: All playoff matches are scheduled for between March 23-31.
- Venues: Semifinals are hosted by the higher-seeded nations (Pot 1 and Pot 2), while path final hosts are decided by the draw, not seeding.
- Key betting markets: Match moneyline, three-way result, To Qualify, Path Winner, correct score, and total goals.
Books will begin posting World Cup playoff betting lines shortly after the draw, with early value often tied to travel spots, injuries, and style mismatches that numbers don’t fully capture at first release.
2026 World Cup playoff draw: paths and bracket
Here is the full World Cup playoff draw as revealed on November 20, including all four qualification paths. These brackets will decide which nations secure the final places at the 2026 World Cup.
Path A: Bracket and matchups
- Semifinal 1: Italy vs. Northern Ireland
- Semifinal 2: Wales vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Path A Final: Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2
Path B: Bracket and matchups
- Semifinal 1: Ukraine vs. Sweden
- Semifinal 2: Poland vs. Albania
- Path B Final: Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2
Path C: Bracket and matchups
- Semifinal 1: Turkey vs Romania
- Semifinal 2: Slovakia vs Kosovo
- Path C Final: Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2
Path D: Bracket and matchups
- Semifinal 1: Denmark vs. North Macedonia
- Semifinal 2: Czech Republic vs. Ireland
- Path D Final: Winner Semifinal 1 vs Winner Semifinal 2
World Cup Playoff odds and early betting predictions
With the bracket set, sportsbooks have posted World Cup playoff odds for the March semifinals and, in some cases, look-ahead prices for the path finals. Below is a snapshot of the latest match odds and our early betting leans.
Match 1: Italy vs Northern Ireland odds and prediction
| Italy | |
Northern Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| -357 | Moneyline | +950 |
| -1000 | To Qualify | +525 |
| Over 2.5 (-147) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (+100) |
Betting breakdown: The Italians lost two games in qualifying, both to Norway, but enter this fixture as overwhelming favorites. Their pedigree is solid; they just need to put in a focused effort, and they should have no problems brushing aside Northern Ireland.
Match 2: Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina odds and prediction
| Wales | |
Bosnia-Herzegovina |
|---|---|---|
| +110 | Moneyline | +240 |
| -182 | To Qualify | +130 |
| Over 2.5 (-114) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (-106) |
Betting breakdown: After putting six goals past Northern Macedonia in their last World Cup qualifier, Wales will be confident they can overcome a Bosnia side that did most of their scoring vs. minnows Cyprus and San Marino.
Match 3: Ukraine vs. Sweden odds and prediction
| Ukraine | |
Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| +130 | Moneyline | +200 |
| -152 | To Qualify | +105 |
| Over 2.5 (-108) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (-133) |
Betting breakdown: Ukraine are the rightful favorites here after giving France a good scare in Group D. Sweden were awful, notching just two points in qualifying while scoring just four goals and conceding 12.
Match 4: Poland vs. Albania odds and prediction
| Poland | |
Albania |
|---|---|---|
| -137 | Moneyline | +400 |
| -303 | To Qualify | +200 |
| Over 2.5 (-102) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (-139) |
Betting breakdown: Poland finished second behind the Netherlands and had a very good qualifying campaign by their standards. Their goalscoring prowess should be enough to get them by Albani, who netted just seven goals in eight matches.
Match 5: Turkey vs Romania odds and prediction
| Turkey | |
Romania |
|---|---|---|
| -189 | Moneyline | +500 |
| -417 | To Qualify | +270 |
| Over 2.5 (-147) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (+105) |
Betting breakdown: Turkey had a strong qualifying campaign, giving Spain a tough time. They netted 17 times in six games, and should find the sailing much smoother vs. Romania.
Match 6: Slovakia vs Kosovo odds and prediction
| Slovakia | |
Kosovo |
|---|---|---|
| -125 | Moneyline | +350 |
| -270 | To Qualify | +185 |
| Over 2.5 (-108) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (-133) |
Betting breakdown: Slovakia beat Germany, which is a solid building point, while Kosovo managed just six goals in six games. This fixture will be cagey throughout, I'd play the Under.
Match 7: Denmark vs. North Macedonia odds and prediction
| Denmark | |
North Macedonia |
|---|---|---|
| -263 | Moneyline | +725 |
| -667 | To Qualify | +380 |
| Over 2.5 (-154) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (+110) |
Betting breakdown: Denmark had every opportunity to win Group C but failed and now must take on a North Macedonia side that lacks real conviction. The Danes should progress.
Match 8: Czech Republic vs. Ireland odds and prediction
| Czech Republic | |
Ireland |
|---|---|---|
| -111 | Moneyline | +280 |
| -227 | To Qualify | +155 |
| Over 2.5 (-128) | Total Goals | Under 2.5 (-111) |
Betting breakdown: The Czech Republic got through a very manageable group, but now has to take on an Ireland side that's full of confidence, having won three straight games while outscoring the opposition 6-2.
2026 World Cup playoff schedule
Here is the full World Cup playoff schedule for March, including dates, kickoff times, venues, and broadcast information.
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, March 26 | Italy vs Northern Ireland | TBD |
| Thursday, March 26 | Wales vs Bosnia-Herzegovina | TBD |
| Thursday, March 26 | Ukraine vs Sweden | TBD |
| Thursday, March 26 | Poland vs Albania | TBD |
| Thursday, March 26 | Turkey vs Romania | TBD |
| Thursday, March 26 | Slovakia vs Kosovo | TBD |
| Thursday, March 26 | Denmark vs North Macedonia | TBD |
| Thursday, March 26 | Czech Republic vs Ireland | TBD |
World Cup Playoff draw reactions
With the bracket locked in, certain nations will feel they received a favorable World Cup playoff path, while others face a brutal route just to reach the finals. Here are our early reactions from a betting perspective.
Winner of the Draw
- Italy: The Azzurri desperately need to avoid a third consecutive playoff elimination after being bounced by Sweden and North Macedonia in the past two editions. They couldn't have picked a better semifinal opponent, but the true test will likely come against Wales in the Final.
Losers of the Draw
- Denmark: The Danes had Group C all but wrapped up before conceding two late goals to Scotland to lose and ultimately finish second. With a tough match against North Macedonia up first, followed by a potential meeting with two tricky sides (Czech/Ireland), the Danes could be left ruing their missed opportunity.
Market movement after the draw
Books have already adjusted World Cup playoff odds and some World Cup futures prices based on the draw:
- Shorteners: Nobody has shortened yet, but Italy remains the top choice from the playoff nations, holding steady at +3300.
- Drifters: The Danes have seen their World Cup odds drift from +6600 to +8000 after the draw.
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2026 FIFA World Cup Playoff Draw FAQ
The World Cup playoffs are split into four paths (A, B, C, and D), each featuring two semifinals and a final. The winner of each path qualifies for the World Cup, meaning four teams ultimately claim the remaining spots at the tournament.
All World Cup playoff fixtures are scheduled for March 23-31, with semifinals played first and path finals following shortly after. Exact kickoff times and venues are confirmed once the draw is complete.
A total of four European teams will qualify via the playoffs, with one nation emerging from each of the four paths to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Sportsbooks typically release World Cup playoff betting odds shortly after the draw is finalized, starting with match moneylines and To Qualify markets before expanding into totals, props, and Path Winner odds.
For many bettors, the most popular markets include To Qualify, Path Winner futures, and match totals, especially in tight ties where a low-scoring or cagey approach is expected. Travel, home advantage, and injuries can all create edges the numbers don’t fully capture in the opening lines.
