Five more participants of the 2026 World Cup have been determined: the final round of European qualification has ended

On November 18, the final matches of the European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were played. In five groups, the last-round games took place, and as a result, five more teams qualified directly for the tournament.

Direct qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup:
Spain, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, and Belgium.

Teams that will play in the playoffs:
Turkey, Denmark, Kosovo, Sweden, Wales, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania.

North Macedonia, Sweden and Romania, like Northern Ireland earlier, secured playoff spots thanks to their Nations League performance.

Key matches of the day

Austria – Bosnia and Herzegovina (1:1)

The match that determined the winner of the group ended in a draw, which fully satisfied Austria.
Bosnia opened the scoring and held the lead until the 77th minute, when Michael Gregoritsch equalised. This goal proved decisive — Austria will play at the World Cup for the first time since 1998.

Scotland – Denmark (4:2)

One of the most dramatic matches of the entire qualifying campaign.

Scotland needed only a win, while Denmark were satisfied with a draw.
From the 61st minute, the visitors played with 10 men after Rasmus Kristensen was sent off.

In the 78th minute, Lawrence Shankland put Scotland ahead 2–1, but Denmark — despite being shorthanded — equalised in the 81st minute thanks to Patrick Dorgu.
However, an incredible finale followed:
— In the 93rd minute, Kieran Tierney scored the winning goal with a left-footed strike from distance.
— In the 98th minute, Kenny McLean sent the ball into the net from almost midfield.
Scotland’s first goal also deserves praise — Scott McTominay scored with a spectacular overhead kick.

Group Results

Group B

Switzerland – 14
Kosovo – 11
Slovenia – 4
Sweden – 2

Kosovo – Switzerland 1:1
Sweden – Slovenia 1:1

Group C

Scotland – 13
Denmark – 11
Greece – 7
Belarus – 2

Scotland – Denmark 4:2
Belarus – Greece 0:0

Group E

Spain – 16
Turkey – 13
Georgia – 3
Bulgaria – 3

Spain – Turkey 2:2
Bulgaria – Georgia 2:1

Group H

Austria – 19
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 17
Romania – 13
Cyprus – 8
San Marino – 0

Austria – Bosnia and Herzegovina 1:1
Romania – San Marino 7:1

Group J

Belgium – 18
Wales – 16
North Macedonia – 13
Kazakhstan – 8
Liechtenstein – 0

Belgium – Liechtenstein 7:0
Wales – North Macedonia 7:1

2026 World Cup Qualification Playoffs

This is how the European playoff bracket will look (image referenced in the original).

There are 16 teams, but only four will qualify for the World Cup.

Each team must win two matches — a semifinal and the final of their path — to reach the World Cup.

The draw will take place on November 20.

The playoff matches will be played on March 26 and 31, 2026.

In total, 12 European teams have already qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup:
Spain, Scotland, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Croatia, and England.

The teams in the playoffs:
Czechia, Albania, Wales, North Macedonia, Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Poland, Ireland, Turkey, Ukraine, Denmark, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Sweden, and Slovakia.

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