MIAMI — The two Concacaf nations participating in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament have learned their opponents.
Teams were drawn into two brackets during Thursday’s draw in Zurich. The event defined the group-stage matchups and subsequent ties, as six teams – two from Concacaf and one team each from the AFC, CAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC confederations – will contest for two World Cup berths.
Jamaica and Suriname earned the right to represent the region and continue their World Cup hopes as the two best second-place teams in the Final Round of the Concacaf Qualifiers to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Play-Off Tournament features two pathways. The four lowest-ranked nations in the latest FIFA Ranking (Bolivia, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname) were unseeded and drawn into the semifinal matchups.
The two highest-ranked teams (Congo DR and Iraq) were seeded and go directly into the finals. The winners of the semifinals will face the two pre-seeded teams, with the nations that win the finals securing their spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Pathway 1
Semifinal
New Caledonia vs. Jamaica
Final
New Caledonia or Jamaica vs. Congo DR
Pathway 2
Semifinal
Bolivia vs. Suriname
Final
Bolivia or Suriname vs. Iraq
The Play-Off Tournament will take place in March 2026 during the FIFA international match window. World Cup 2026 co-host Mexico will house the Play-Off Tournament in the cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey.
The two winners, along with the four teams that advance from the European Play-Offs, will complete the field of 42 nations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
