Guadalajara and Monterrey to Host FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament

FIFA has announced that the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey will host the FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament in the March 2026 international break.

Six teams will compete from March 23–31 for two final places at the first 48-team FIFA World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the United States, which will kick off less than three months after the Play-Off Tournament.

Guadalajara Stadium and Monterrey Stadium will be the stages for two semifinals and two finals to determine the two winners who will progress to the FIFA World Cup. The two stadia will also be venues for World Cup itself next summer.

Having opened in 2010, Guadalajara Stadium is home to Liga MX side C. D. Guadalajara, while Monterrey Stadium, nicknamed El Gigante de Acero (“The Steel Giant”), opened in 2015 and is the home venue for Rayados.

The six national teams competing for those two spots qualified for the intercontinental Play-Off Tournament through their five international confederations, namely Iraq (AFC), Congo DR (CAF), Bolivia (CONMEBOL), New Caledonia (OFC) and Jamaica and Suriname (Concacaf).

In a draw conducted at the Home of FIFA in Zurich, Switzerland, the following two paths were determined.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament Draw:

• Semi Final: New Caledonia vs. Jamaica
• Final: Congo DR vs. New Caledonia / Jamaica

• Semi Final: Bolivia vs. Suriname
• Final: Iraq vs. Bolivia / Suriname

The full match schedule for the intercontinental Play-Off Tournament has yet to be determined. Meanwhile, fans will be able to buy tickets at FIFA.com after the ticketing information is released in early 2026.

“These iconic stadiums are the perfect stages for what promises to be a thrilling event filled with passion, drama and excitement,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. “This Play-Off Tournament offers fans the chance to be part of history-making matches in world-class cities and venues ahead of the main event which will kick off less than three months later across Canada, Mexico and the United States.”

European Play-Off Draw Announced

Meanwhile, FIFA also conducted the draw for the European Play-Offs, which will decide the final four European teams who will qualify for next summer’s FIFA World Cup 2026.

Between March 26–31, 2026, 16 national teams will compete across four separate paths, with each path featuring two one-legged semifinals before one playoff final. Teams from Pot One (the top seeds) were drawn against Pot Four teams, and Pot Two teams will face off against Pot Three teams.

FIFA World Cup 2026 European Play-Off Draw:

Path A:

• Semifinals: Italy vs. Northern Ireland (SF1) and Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina (SF2)
• Final: SF2 winner vs. SF1 winner

Path B:

• Semifinals: Ukraine vs. Sweden (SF3) and Poland vs. Albania (SF4)
• Final: SF3 winner vs. SF4 winner

Path C:

• Semifinals: Türkiye Romania (SF5) and Slovakia vs. Kosovo (SF6)
• Final: SF6 winner vs. SF5 winner

Path D:

• Semifinals: Denmark vs. North Macedonia (SF7) and Czechia vs. Republic of Ireland (SF8)
• Final: SF8 winner vs. SF7 winner

What’s Next

The recent announcements comes as the 42 national teams that have already qualified for next summer’s Tournament prepare for the Final Draw in Washington D.C. next month. The Draw will be held at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, when the national teams will learn most, if not all, of their group stage opponents.

The 76th FIFA Congress will then be held in Vancouver, Canada, on April 30, 2026, before the FIFA World Cup 2026 officially kicks off in Mexico City on June 11.