Qualifying for the biggest-ever FIFA Men’s World Cup started in late 2023 and has already produced some incredible stories, including the unlikely berths of Curaçao and Cape Verde.
But there are still some heavyweights that have not yet locked in their spot in the 48-team competition in the United States, Canada, and Mexico starting in June.
Four-time World Cup champion Italy headlines the play-off finals; Türkiye or Kosovo will be the Socceroos’ first group stage opponent, and after starting this qualification campaign leading Australia, Graham Arnold is hoping to take Iraq all the way.
Twelve teams remain in the hunt for the final six spots, with their World Cup dreams to be decided in winner-takes-all play-offs.
UEFA play-offs
UEFA has the most qualification spots for the tournament, with the final four of 16 nations to be decided in games across the continent.
Stan Sport will broadcast all UEFA qualifiers.
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy
Wednesday, April 1, 5:45am AEDT, Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sandro Tonali scored Italy’s first goal against Northern Ireland in the play-off semifinal. (Getty Images: Giuseppe Maffia)
The Azzurri are the world number 12, but have missed the last two editions of the tournament after losing in play-offs both times.
Twenty years after its last World Cup triumph, there is incredible expectation on the one-time powerhouse of men’s football to rise again.
Bosnia and Herzegovina has only ever been to one World Cup in Brazil 2014.
Incredibly, the team is still led by 40-year-old talisman Edin Džeko, who has conceded Italy will be the “big favourites”.
The Italians beat Northern Ireland at home last week to progress to this stage, while Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Wales in a penalty shootout.
The winner will join Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B.
Kosovo vs Türkiye
Wednesday, April 1, 5:45am AEDT, Stadiumi Fadil Vokrri, Pristina, Kosovo
Arda Güler (right) has been a central figure for Türki̇ye during qualifying. (Getty Images: Ahmad Mora )
This is the match most Socceroos fans will be keeping a keen eye on — they’ll face the winner in their first group game in Vancouver.
At world number 24, Türkiye is ranked three places higher than Australia, and is the favourite to progress.
Led by Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler, it had a tough 1-0 win over Romania in the play-off semis.
Kosovo, ranked 78th, is hoping to make its World Cup debut, still riding on a high after a thrilling 4-3 win over Slovakia.
The winner will join Australia, the USA and Paraguay in Group D.
Sweden vs Poland
Wednesday, April 1, 5:45am AEDT, Nationalarenan, Solna, Sweden
Viktor Gyökeres was in top goal-scoring form in Sweden’s semifinal victory. (Getty Images: David Aliaga)
Viktor Gyökeres is familiar to most football fans, and the Arsenal striker has propelled his country to this point, scoring a hat-trick in the 3-1 semifinal win over Ukraine.
This is a re-match of the 2022 play-offs, where Poland claimed a 2-0 win.
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, 37, is still the main man for Poland, as he hopes to lead his country to a third straight World Cup.
The winner will join the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia in Group F.
Czechia vs Denmark
Wednesday, April 1, 5:45am AEDT, Letná Stadium, Prague, Czechia
Czechia claimed a dramatic win over Ireland in a penalty shootout. (Getty Images: Adam Davy)
World number 20 Denmark is aiming to qualify for a third straight time and comes into this play-off final off the back of a 4-0 win over North Macedonia.
Czechia pulled off a late escape against Ireland, after trailing 2-0, it claimed a late equaliser to force a shootout.
The 43rd-ranked side has not featured in a World Cup in 20 years.
The winner will join Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in Group A.
Intercontinental play-offs
The last two places will be determined at FIFA’s play-off tournament, hosted at two of the World Cup venues in Mexico.
These games will be streamed on FIFA+.
Bolivia vs Iraq
Wednesday, April 1, 2pm AEDT, Monterrey Stadium, Guadalupe, Mexico
Australian Graham Arnold is guiding Iraq through qualification. (Getty Images: Noushad Thekkayil)
After a poor start to the Socceroos’ qualifying campaign, coach Graham Arnold resigned in September 2024.
He took over as Iraq’s manager in May 2025, and the Lions of Mesopotamia reached this stage with a 107th-minute penalty against the UAE in the fifth stage of AFC qualifying.
Their sole appearance at the sport’s showpiece event came in 1986, and Arnold is looking to become the first Australian coach to take two different countries to the World Cup.
Bolivia has played an extra game, having to defeat Suriname to earn the clash against Iraq, and its last World Cup appearance came in 1994.
The winner will join France, Norway, and Senegal in Group I.
Jamaica vs DR Congo
Wednesday, April 1, 8am AEDT, Guadalajara Stadium, Guadalajara, Mexico
Jamaica had to beat New Caledonia to get a final chance to qualify. (Getty Images)
Like Iraq, Congo secured an early spot in this play-off final, while Jamaica had to overcome New Caledonia in the semi.
Jamaica is ranked much higher at 69, to Congo’s 132.
The Reggae Boyz missed a shot at automatic qualification after a scoreless draw with Curaçao saw the “blue wave” become the smallest ever nation by population to make it to the World Cup.
The winner will join Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan in Group K.
Who else has qualified for the World Cup?
The USA, Canada, and Mexico were given automatic berths as the co-hosts, with the rest of the nations contesting continental qualification pathways.
UEFA (Europe)
England, France, Croatia, Norway, Portugal, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, Austria and Belgium.
Concacaf (North America, Central America and Caribbean)
Panama, Curaçao and Haiti.
CAF (Africa)
Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
AFC (Asia)
Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and South Korea.
CONMEBOL (South America)
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay and Uruguay.
OFC (Oceania)
New Zealand.