Six World Cup spots. One final day of qualifying.<\/p>\n
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The field for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be finalized today as 12 nations fight for the last six places in the expanded 48-team tournament, set to be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico.<\/p>\n
The stakes are highest in Europe, where four playoff finals will decide the final qualifiers from the region. Italy headlines the slate, trying to avoid a third consecutive World Cup absence when it faces Bosnia and Herzegovina at 2:45 p.m. ET on FS1.\u00a0Joining that match on a simultaneous kickoff are Sweden vs. Poland; Kosovo vs. Turkey; and, Czech Republic vs. Denmark. The winner of the Turkey-Kosovo game will slot into Group D, alongside the United States, Paraguay and Australia.<\/p>\n
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The final two spots will be decided later tonight through the Intercontinental Playoff Tournament, where Congo meets Jamaica and Bolivia faces Iraq. Those winners emerge from a cross-confederation field spanning CONCACAF, Africa, Asia, South America and Oceania.<\/p>\n
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Vitaliy Mykolenko of Ukraine in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Ukraine and Sweden at Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia, Spain, on March 26, 2026. (Photo by David Aliaga\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Times Union is providing updates before, during and after the event.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 6:05 p.m.: The second half of the scoreless match between the Congo and Jamaica is underway.\u00a0<\/p>\n 5:49 p.m.: Congo vs. Jamaica is scoreless at halftime in Guadalajara, Mexico. The game is now being broadcast on FS1.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 5:35 p.m.: Bosnia and Herzegovina stun Italy 4-1 in penalty kicks. Sending the Italians to their third consecutive World Cup absence.<\/p>\n 5:31 p.m.: Czechia defeats Denmark 3-1 on penalties to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 5:26 p.m.: Italy vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Czechia vs. Denmark are headed to penalty kicks.<\/p>\n 5:08 p.m.: Czechia and Denmark are tied once again after Kasper H\u00f8gh scores on a header in the 111th minute, assisted by Anders Dreyer.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 5:02 p.m.: The first of two Intercontinental Playoff Tournament contests is underway between Congo and Jamaica. The game is being televised on FS2.<\/p>\n 4:57 p.m.: Ladislav Krejc\u00ed’s goal in the 100th minute puts Czechia up 2-1 against Denmark in extra time. Game is not over yet.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 4:48 p.m.: After 90 minutes, Italy vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina and Czechia vs. Denmark remain tied and head to extra time.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4:44 p.m.: Kerem Akt\u00fcrkoglu’s goal in the 53rd minute lifted Turkey to a 1-0 win over Kosovo. With the win, Turkey qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will slot into Group D, alongside the United States, Paraguay and Australia.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 4:42 p.m.: Viktor Gy\u00f6keres scored the tiebreaking goal in the 88th minute, and Sweden defeated Poland 3-2 to earn a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.\u00a0<\/p>\n 4:35 p.m.: Viktor Gy\u00f6keres scores in the 88th minute to put Sweden ahead 3-2 against Poland.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 4:29 p.m.: Bosnia and Herzegovina levels the score at 1-1 in the 79th minute on a goal from Haris Tabakovic.<\/p>\n 4:18 p.m.: Joachim Andersen scores on a cross from Mikkel Damsgaard in the 72nd minute as Denmark levels the score 1-1 against Czechia.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 4:07 p.m.: Kerem Akt\u00fcrkoglu gives Turkey a 1-0 lead over Kosovo in the 53rd minute, assisted by Orkun K\u00f6k\u00e7\u00fc.<\/p>\n 4:04 p.m.: Poland’s Karol Swiderski levels the score at 2-2 in the 55th minute against Sweden, assisted by Nicola Zalewski.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 3:45 p.m.: Italy leads Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 at halftime but faces a challenge of playing the second half with only 10 players after Alessandro Bastoni was shown a red card in the 41st minute. Moise Kean scored Italy’s goal in the 15th minute.<\/p>\n 3:43 p.m.: Sweden has a 2-1 lead over Poland at halftime in Stockholm. The Swedes have gotten first-half goals from Anthony Elanga and Gustaf Lagerbielke, while Nicola Zalewski scored for Poland.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 3:41 p.m.: Czechia leads Denmark 1-0 on a goal from Pavel Sulc in the third minute of action in Prague.<\/p>\n 3:39 p.m.: Kosovo and Turkey are scoreless after 45 minutes of action in Prishtina, Kosovo.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 3:35 p.m.: Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni is shown a red card and sent off in the 41st minute after taking out Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Amar Memic on a fast break. Italy leads 1-0 but will now play with just 10 men for the remainder of the game.<\/p>\n 3:32 p.m.: Sweden goes back on top of Poland 2-1 in the 44th minute on a goal from Gustaf Lagerbielke, assisted by Benjamin Nygren.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 3:22 p.m.: Poland draws even with Sweden in the 33rd minute on a goal from Nicola Zalewski, assisted by Piotr Zielinski.\u00a0<\/p>\n 3:09 p.m.: Anthony Elanga gives Sweden a 1-0 lead over Poland in the 19th minute, assisted by Yasin Ayari.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 3 p.m.: Moise Kean gives Italy a 1-0 lead over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the 15-minute mark, assisted by Nicol\u00f2 Barella. Czechia leads Denmark 1-0 on a goal from Pavel Sulc in the third minute of action.<\/p>\n 2:45 p.m.: The UEFA World Cup qualifiers are underway. Italy is taking on Bosnia and Herzegovina on FS1 and Kosovo is facing Turkey on FS2. Two more qualifiers, the Czech Republic vs. Denmark and Sweden vs. Poland, have also kicked off.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 2 p.m.: This will be the largest World Cup ever, expanding from 32 teams in 2022 to 48, with Europe sending 16 nations to the tournament.<\/p>\n Gianluca Mancini of Italy in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Claudio Villa – FIGC\/FIGC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Claudio Villa – FIGC\/FIGC via Getty Images Florent Muslija of Kosovo runs with the ball while under pressure from Ismail Yueksek of Turkiye during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Kosovo and T\u00fcrkiye at Fadil Vokkri Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Pristina, Kosovo. (Photo by Ferdi Limani\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Ferdi Limani\/Getty Images Referee Clement Turpin reacts with palyers of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Claudio Villa – FIGC\/FIGC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Claudio Villa – FIGC\/FIGC via Getty Images Novak Djokovic inside the stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs final between Bosnia and Italy. (Photo by Giacomo Cosua\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Moise Kean of Italy celebrates the 0-1 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying Play-off match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Giacomo Cosua\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Moise Kean of Italy celebrates the 0-1 goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifying Play-off match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Giacomo Cosua\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Vedat Muriqi of Kosovo reacts whilst checked on by Ugurcan Cakir of Turkiye during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Kosovo and T\u00fcrkiye at Fadil Vokkri Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Pristina, Kosovo. (Photo by Ferdi Limani\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Ferdi Limani\/Getty Images Kosovo and Turkiye players clash during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Kosovo and T\u00fcrkiye at Fadil Vokkri Stadium on March 31, 2026 in Pristina, Kosovo. (Photo by Armando Babani – UEFA\/UEFA via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Armando Babani – UEFA\/UEFA via Getty Images Hakan Calhanoglu of Turkiye plays during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers knockout play-offs game between Turkiye and Romania in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 26, 2026. (Photo by Alex Nicodim\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Ismail Yuksek and Daniel Birligea play during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers knockout play-offs game between Turkey and Romania in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 26, 2026. (Photo by Alex Nicodim\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Oskar Pietuszewski of Poland seen in action during the European World Cup Qualifiers 2026 football match between Poland and Albania at PEG Narodowy Stadium (Warsaw). Final score; Poland 2:1 Albania. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/p>\n SOPA Images\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Gett Gustav Isaksen (Denmark) controls the ball during during Semi-final FIFA World Cup Qualification: Denmark and North Macedonia at Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark on March 26, 2026 (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Piotr Zielinski of Poland celebrates a goal during the European World Cup Qualifiers 2026 football match between Poland and Albania at PEG Narodowy Stadium (Warsaw). Final score; Poland 2:1 Albania. (Photo by Grzegorz Wajda\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/p>\n SOPA Images\/SOPA Images\/LightRocket via Gett Riccardo Calafiori of Italy in action during the UEFA World Cup Qualifier match between Italy and Northern Ireland at New Balance Arena on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Federico Dimarco of Italy in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualifiers play-off semi-final football match between Italy and Northern Ireland. Italy won 2-0 over Northern Ireland. (Photo by Nicol\u00f2 Campo\/LightRocket via Getty Images)<\/p>\n Nicol\u00f2 Campo\/LightRocket via Getty Images Marco Palestra of Italy controls the ball during the UEFA World Cup Qualifier match between Italy and Northern Ireland at New Balance Arena on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy (Photo by Giuseppe Maffia\/NurPhoto via Getty Images)<\/p>\n NurPhoto\/NurPhoto via Getty Images Poland’s forward #09 Robert Lewandowski plays the ball during a training session of Poland’s national football team on the eve of the play-off FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification final football match Sweden vs Poland, in Stockholm, Sweden on March 30, 2026. (Photo by Jonas EKSTROMER \/ TT News Agency \/ AFP via Getty Images) \/ Sweden OUT<\/p>\n JONAS EKSTROMER\/TT News Agency\/AFP via Getty Ima Poland’s forward #09 Robert Lewandowski eyes the ball during a training session of Poland’s national football team on the eve of the play-off FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification final football match Sweden vs Poland, in Stockholm, Sweden on March 30, 2026. (Photo by Jonas EKSTROMER \/ TT News Agency \/ AFP via Getty Images) \/ Sweden OUT<\/p>\n JONAS EKSTROMER\/TT News Agency\/AFP via Getty Ima Democratic Republic of Congo players take part in a training session at the Verde Valle Training Center in Zapopan, Jalisco state, Mexico, on March 30, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoff match against Jamaica at Akron Stadium on March 31. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n ULISES RUIZ\/AFP via Getty Images Jamaica’s forward Bailey Cadamarteri (C) takes part in a training session at the Verde Valle training center in Zapopan, Mexico, on March 30, 2026, ahead of the intercontinental 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers playoff match against the DR Congo on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n ULISES RUIZ\/AFP via Getty Images Democratic Republic of Congo players take part in a training session at the Verde Valle Training Center in Zapopan, Jalisco state, Mexico, on March 30, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoff match against Jamaica at Akron Stadium on March 31. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n ULISES RUIZ\/AFP via Getty Images Bolivia’s midfielder #17 Roberto Fernandez controls the ball during a training session at Borregos Sports Center I in Monterrey, Mexico on March 30, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoff football match against Iraq on March 31. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n JULIO CESAR AGUILAR\/AFP via Getty Images Iraq’s midfielder Ibrahim Bayesh looks at the ball during a training session at Borregos Sports Center I in Monterrey, Mexico on March 30, 2026, ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers final playoff football match against Bolivia on March 31. (Photo by Julio Cesar AGUILAR \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n JULIO CESAR AGUILAR\/AFP via Getty Images Jamaica’s forward #09 Bailey Cadamarteri (R) celebrates with teammate defender #06 Richard King after scoring the opening goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers semi-final playoff football match between New Caledonia and Jamaica at the Akron Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico on March 26, 2026. (Photo by Ulises Ruiz \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n ULISES RUIZ\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Six World Cup spots. One final day of qualifying. 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\n Live updates: 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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