Ten more countries were eliminated from World Cup 2026contention in the qualification play-off semi-finals.
There were eight semi-finals in the four paths of the UEFA play-offs and football updatestwo semi-finals in the inter-confederation play-off tournament – the latter taking place in World Cup co-host nation Mexico.
Here’s your round-up of all the action from the penultimate round of qualifiers for the tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
UEFA Play-offs
Path A
Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
Four-time World Cup winners Italy are one win away from qualifying for their first finals since 2014 after nervously seeing off Northern Ireland in Bergamo.
The Azzurri were humbled in the play-offs by Sweden and North Macedonia to miss out on the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, but Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean’s second-half strikes downed a young and dogged Northern Ireland side.
Wales 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-4 on Penalties)
Goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj was the hero as Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Wales on penalties in Cardiff to set up a home showdown with Italy for a place at the World Cup.
Wales had led through Dan James’ long-range stunner, but 40-year-old captain Edin Dzeko headed the visitors level late on.
Vasilj saved from Neco Williams in the shootout before 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic dispatched the decisive spot-kick to keep alive Bosnia’s hopes of reaching their second World Cup finals – having previously qualified in 2014.
Path B
Ukraine 1-3 Sweden
Viktor Gyokeres hit a hat-trick to keep Sweden on track for a World Cup return after failing to qualify last time around.
In a game being played in Valencia due to the war in Ukraine, the Arsenal striker made the difference with goals in the sixth minute of each half and a third from the penalty spot.
Poland 2-1 Albania
Skipper Robert Lewandowski helped Poland fight back from a goal down to beat Albania and set up a final away to Sweden.
Still leading the Polish charge by example at the age of 37, Lewandowski cancelled out Arber Hoxha’s opener which had the visitors – who have never qualified for the World Cup – ahead at half-time in Warsaw, before Piotr Zielinski completed the turnaround and teed up a final away to Sweden.
Path C
Slovakia 3-4 Kosovo
Kosovo came on top in a thriller against Slovakia to put themselves one victory away from their first-ever major tournament.
The hosts twice led in the first half, but goals from Vedin Hodza, Fisnik Asllani, Florent Muslija and Kreshnik Hajirzi put the tiny Balkan nation with a population of just 1.5 million – which only gained independence from Serbia in 2008 and whose football association wasn’t admitted to FIFA until 2015 – on the cusp of completing a fantastic underdog story, David Strelec’s stoppage-time goal proving too little too late.
Turkiye 1-0 Romania
Ferdi Kadioglu’s goal took Turkiye another step closer to reaching their first World Cup since 2002 – and just their third ever.
The Brighton left-back struck decisively early in the second half in Istanbul, where the hosts dominated, setting up a trip to Kosovo in the final.
Path D
Czech Republic 2-2 Republic of Ireland (4-3 on Penalties)
The Czech Republic battled back from 2-0 down against the Republic of Ireland in Prague to eventually triumph via a shootout.
A Troy Parrot penalty and an own goal by goalkeeper Matej Kovar had put the Irish 2-0 up inside 23 minutes, but Patrick Schick converted from the spot to halve the deficit soon after – then captain Ladislav Krejci headed home a late equaliser to force extra time.
Kovar completed his redemption arc with shootout saves from Finn Azaz and Alan Browne, and Jan Kliment tucked away the winning penalty for the Czechs to stay in contention to qualify for the first time in 20 years.
Denmark 4-0 North Macedonia
Denmark will travel to the Czech Republic as they look to qualify for a third straight World Cup for the first time in their history, thanks to four second-half goals which crushed North Macedonia’s dream of making it to their first finals.
Having been unable to find a way through during the first half in Copenhagen, the Danes surged into a 3-0 lead just shy of the hour mark, Mikel Damsgaard breaking the deadlock and Gustav Isaksen bagging a brace – before Christian Norgaard made well and truly sure of victory.
UEFA Play-off Finals Draw (Ties to be Played on Tuesday 31 March, 7.45pm)
Path A: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy
Path B: Sweden vs Poland
Path C: Kosovo vs Turkiye
Path D: Czech Republic vs Denmark
Inter-confederation Play-off Tournament
New Caledonia 0-1 Jamaica
Jamaica edged past rank outsiders New Caledonia in Guadalajara to tee up a final against DR Congo as they aim to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1998 – and only the second time ever.
Bailey Cadamarteri scored the only goal of the game to keep the qualification hopes of the Reggae Boyz alive.
Bolivia 2-1 Suriname
Bolivia will face Iraq for the chance to play at their first World Cup since 1994 – the last time the tournament took place in the USA – after coming from behind to beat Suriname in Monterrey.
Liam van Gelderen had put the minnows ranked 123rdin the world ahead early in the second half, but Moises Paniagua equalised on 72 minutes – with Miguel Terceros winning the tie from the spot seven minutes later.
Inter-confederation Play-off Tournament Finals Draw
DR Congo vs Jamaica (Tuesday 31 March, 10pm)
Iraq vs Bolivia (Wednesday 1 April, 4am)
NewsFootballWorld Cup 2026 NewsWorld Cup 2026 Play-off Semi-finals: Italy Close in on World Cup Return, but Wales and Ireland Suffer Penalty PainAbout
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