2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Intercontinental/Inter-Confederation Playoffs Preview & Predictions

By: AT

Image Credit: Miguel Ramírez

As of writing, 42 nations have qualified for the newly expanded 48-nation FIFA World Cup, which will take place in June and July 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Two remaining six nations will qualify via the Intercontinental/Inter-Confederation Playoffs. This round is the first and only round of World Cup qualifying that involves nations from more than one confederation.

The Intercontinental playoffs consist of six nations, with two paths comprising three nations, each. Beginning with two one-match knockout-style semifinal matches, the two winners will advance to the final round, where they will meet the two nations — DR Congo and Iraq — that have qualified automatically for the final round because of their higher FIFA rankings. This round will also include two matches between each of the paths’ semifinals winners and those two nations. The two final-match winners will qualify for the World Cup.

Below is a short bulleted preview of each of the six nations competing in the Intercontinental Playoffs.

Nation Previews

Path A

• 🇨🇩 DR Congo

  • Nickname: Les Léopards ("The Leopards")

  • Number of FIFA World Cup tournament appearances (last appearance): 1 (1974)

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers overall record: 8 wins (W), 2 draw (D), 2 losses (L)

• 🇯🇲 Jamaica

  • Nickname: The Reggae Boys (“The Kagus”)

  • Number of FIFA World Cup tournament appearances (last appearance): 1 (1998)

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers overall record: 7W, 2D, 1L

• 🇳🇨 New Caledonia

  • Nickname: Les Cagous (“The Kagus”)

  • Number of FIFA World Cup tournament appearances: Never qualified

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers overall record: 3W, 1D 1L

Path B

• 🇧🇴 Bolivia

  • Nickname: La Verde (“The Green”)

  • Number of FIFA World Cup tournament appearances (last appearance): 3 (1998)

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers overall record: 6W, 2L, 10L

• 🇮🇶 Iraq

  • Nicknames: Usood Al-Rafidain (“The Lions of Mesopotamia”)

  • Number of FIFA World Cup tournament appearances (last appearance): 1 (1986)

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers overall record: 12W, 5D 3L

• 🇸🇷 Suriname

  • Nickname: Natio

  • Number of FIFA World Cup tournament appearances: Never qualified

  • 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers overall record: 5W, 4D, 1L

Playoffs Path Brackets and Schedules, and Semifinal Round Predictions

2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Path A and Path B Brackets and Semifinal Round Predictions.

Based on the brackets listed above, the schedule for the European Playoffs the following:

• Thursday, March 26 — Path Semifinals

  • Path A: Jamaica vs New Caledonia, Estadio Akron, Zapopan (Guadalajara)

  • Path B: Bolivia vs Suriname, Estadio BBVA, Guadeloupe (Monterrey)

• Tuesday, March 31 — Path FINALS

  • Path A: Winner of Path A semifinal vs DR Congo, Estadio Akron

  • Path B: Winner of Path B semifinal vs Iraq, Estadio BBVA

As indicated in the brackets, our two semifinal round winners are the following:

• Path A

  • Jamaica

• Path B

  • Bolivia

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Comment your predictions for which nations will advance to the final round of qualifying playoffs!