19.11.2025 10:55
In their last match of Group E in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers, the Turkish National Team, which faced Spain, will participate in the playoff round. Turkey, which finished second in the group, may face Sweden, Romania, Northern Ireland, and North Macedonia in the playoff stage. The playoff draw will take place on Thursday, November 20, at 15:00 Turkish time in Zurich, Switzerland.
Our national team’s potential opponents in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup play-offs have been determined. The possible opponents of our team in the play-off round are Sweden, Romania, Northern Ireland, and North Macedonia.
HOW WILL THE PLAY-OFF MATCHUPS BE?
In the play-off round of the 2026 World Cup, 12 teams from the qualifiers and 4 teams from the Nations League will participate. 16 teams will be divided into four pots, with teams from the first pot matched against those from the fourth pot, and teams from the second pot matched against those from the third pot.
WHEN WILL THE PLAY-OFF MATCHES BE PLAYED?
The semi-final matches in the play-off round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will be played on March 26, 2026, and the final matches will be held on March 31, 2026. The play-off will be played as a single match, and the team that wins the final will secure a ticket to the World Cup. Teams in pots 1 and 2 will play their first matches at home. The host of the second matches will be determined after the draw.
POTENTIAL OPPONENTS IN THE PLAY-OFF ROUND
Turkey, which will be in pot 1, will be matched against one of the teams in pot 4. The pots in the play-off round are as follows;
- 1ST POT: Turkey, Italy, Ukraine, Denmark
- 2ND POT: Wales, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia
- 3RD POT: Albania, Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- 4TH POT: Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia
WHEN IS THE DRAW?
The draw for the 2026 World Cup play-offs will take place on November 20, Thursday at 15:00 CET in Zurich, Switzerland. The draw is expected to be broadcast live on EXXEN.