The draw for FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Play-Off Round, that is set to determine the final European teams to qualify for the tournament has been completed.

During the ceremony held at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, the intercontinental play-off draws were conducted first, followed by the draw for European Qualifiers Play-Off Round, which includes our National Team.

Turkish Football Federation was represented at the draw by General Secretary Abdullah Ayaz, Senior National Team Head Coach Vincenzo Montella, TFF Foreign Affairs and National Teams Executive Director Buğra İmamoğulları and TFF Senior and U21 National Teams Administrative Manager Mert Tuncay. The ceremony began with an opening speech from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and the draws were carried out by FIFA legends Christian Karembeu, Marco Materazzi and Martin Dahlin.

Placed in Pot 1 for the draw, our National Team was paired with Romania in the semi-final of the play-off round. Our National Team will host Romania on Thursday, 26 March 2026. If we defeat Romania, we will face the winner of Slovakia - Kosovo matchup in the final, which will be played away on Tuesday, 31 March 2026. The winner of the final will earn one of the last four European spots at FIFA World Cup 2026.

A total of 16 teams will compete in the play-off round, divided across four different play-off paths consisting of four teams each. The matches will be played in a single-leg elimination format, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled for 26 March 2026 and 31 March 2026. The four teams that progress through their respective play-off paths and win in the final will secure their place at FIFA World Cup 2026 finals.

FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Play-Off Round matchups, as determined by the draw, are as follows:

PLAY-OFF PATH A
Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina / Italy vs Northern Ireland

PLAY-OFF PATH B
Ukraine vs Sweden / Poland vs Albania

PLAY-OFF PATH C
Slovakia vs Kosovo / TÜRKİYE vs Romania

PLAY-OFF PATH D
Czechia vs Republic of Ireland / Denmark vs North Macedonia