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![\"Italian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/69ca3e707b6bfaa451124293jpeg.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tItalian and Northern Ireland players react after the World Cup qualifying play-off soccer match between Italy and Northern Ireland, in Bergamo, Italy, Thursday, March 26, 2026. (AP Photo\/Antonio Calanni)<\/p>\n
Four-time champion Italy is the standout name in the European playoffs as it tries to avoid missing out on a World Cup for a third consecutive time.<\/p>\n
European playoffs<\/p>\n
There will be more European teams than from any other continent at the World Cup: 16.<\/p>\n
Eight teams made it through the last round of the playoffs and will seek the final four spots in winner-take-all matches: Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy, Sweden vs. Poland, Kosovo vs. Turkey and Czech Republic vs. Denmark.<\/p>\n
All four games will be played Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The winner of the Turkey-Kosovo game will enter into Group D, which already has the United States, Paraguay and Australia.<\/p>\n
Intercontinental playoffs<\/p>\n
There is a different format for the intercontinental playoffs, which FIFA simply calls the Playoff Tournament.<\/p>\n
Two teams will advance from a field of six.<\/p>\n
The initial lineup was made up of two teams from CONCACAF (Jamaica, Suriname) and one each from Asia (Iraq), Africa (Congo), South America (Bolivia) and Oceania (New Caledonia).<\/p>\n
Congo, Jamaica, Iraq and Bolivia made it through to the final two matches. Congo will face Jamaica and Bolivia will play Iraq.<\/p>\n
The decisive games will be played in Guadalajara and Monterrey on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Who has qualified for the 2026 World Cup?<\/p>\n
Co-hosts: Canada, Mexico and the United States.<\/p>\n
Asia: Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan<\/p>\n
Africa: Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia<\/p>\n
North America, Central America and Caribbean: Curacao, Haiti, Panama<\/p>\n
South America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay<\/p>\n
Oceania: New Zealand<\/p>\n
Europe: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland<\/p>\n
When is the 2026 World Cup?<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\tThe Warm-Up<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n