The six remaining qualification slots for the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup will be filled during the international break when the final four European nations and two intercontinental qualifiers emerge from the playoffs. The World Cup playoffs are scheduled to take place on Thursday and Tuesday during the international break.

Italy will play Northern Ireland in a Path A playoff semifinal in Bergamo, Italy. Italy failed to progress through the playoffs for the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups, losing to North Macedonia in the playoff semifinal for the 2022 World Cup. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said his squad felt nervous ahead of the match against Northern Ireland because the team failed to progress through the playoffs for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Northern Ireland are attempting to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986. Northern Ireland are without injured Premier League defenders Conor Bradley of Liverpool and Dan Ballard of Sunderland.

Wales will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Path A playoff semifinal in Cardiff, Wales. Wales are ranked 35th in the FIFA men's rankings, while Bosnia and Herzegovina are ranked 71st. Bosnia and Herzegovina lost one game in UEFA Group H and finished as runners-up behind Austria. The Path A playoff winner will enter Group B alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.

Wrexham forward Kieffer Moore is injured and will miss Wales's semifinal match. Edin Dzeko, aged 40, has scored six goals in eight games for Schalke since joining the club in January.

Poland and Albania will play a Path B playoff semifinal in Warsaw, Poland. The Path B playoff winner will enter Group F alongside the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia.

Ukraine will play their Path B playoff match at Levante's Estadi Ciutat de Valencia in Valencia, Spain. Sweden failed to win any game during the qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup, finishing bottom of UEFA Group B with four defeats and two draws. Sweden secured a playoff spot through their performance in the UEFA Nations League a year earlier.

Sweden forward Alexander Isak is absent with a broken leg, while Arsenal forward Viktor Gyökeres is fit and available for Sweden. Graham Potter is the coach of the Sweden national team.

Turkey and Romania will play a Path C playoff semifinal in Istanbul, Turkey. The Path C playoff winner will enter Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay, and Australia.