Türkiye claimed one of the final six spots in the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Kosovo during Tuesday’s UEFA playoff final.
Kerem Aktürkoğlu scored in the 53rd minute and that was all Türkiye needed to secure a spot in the World Cup for the first time in 24 years and only the second time since 1954.
With the win, Türkiye will be with the United States in Group D along with Paraguay and Australia.
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Joining Türkiye in this summer’s tournament will be Sweden, who edged Poland 3-2, thanks to an 88th minute winner from Viktor Gyökeres.
Sweden will be back at the World Cup for the first time since a run to the quarterfinals in 2018. They will be in Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
The two other UEFA spots remain up for grabs with Italy-Bosnia and Herzegovina (1-1) and Czechia-Denmark (1-1) in extra time.
Later on Tuesday, the FIFA inter-continental playoff finals will see DR Congo face Jamaica and Iraq take on Bolivia.
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The FIFA playoffs began with six teams playing a tournament-style format to determine two of the qualifiers. DR Congo and Iraq are the top two seeds, which allowed them to advance directly to the finals of their respective pathway’s.
There were 16 teams in the UEFA playoffs that were part of a mini-bracket featuring a semifinal and final for each individual path. The teams were drawn into four separate paths. Each pathway featured two semifinals and one final.
The qualifiers out of these playoffs will join the 48-team field for this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Live33 updates
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 2:10 PM PDT
DR Congo: Lionel Mpasi-Nzau; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Chancel Mbemba, Arthur Masuaku; Nathanaël Mbuku, Samuel Moutoussamy, Noah Sadiki, Meschack Elia; Cédric Bakambu, Yoane Wissa.
Jamaica: Andre Blake; Ronaldo Webster, Ethan Pinnock, Richard King, Joel Latibeaudiere; Isaac Hayden, Kasey Palmer; Bobby Reid, Leon Bailey; Bailey Cadamarteri, Tyreece Campbell.
Sean Leahy
Kasper Høgh rescues the Danes to even the score at 2-2 with nine minutes to play until penalties.
Sean Leahy
Pio Esposito’s header was denied by the B&H keeper in the waning moments of the first half of extra time.
Sean Leahy
Ladislav Krejčí puts the hosts ahead with a goal in the first half of extra time. The Danes’ World Cup hopes are on thin ice.
Sean Leahy
Congo DR (4-2-2): Lionel M’Pasi, Chancel Mbemba, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Noah Sadiki, Samuel Moutoussamy, Meschack Elia, Nathanaël Mbuku, Yoane Wissa, Cédric Bakambu
Jamaica (4-2-2-2): Andre Blake, Richard King, Ethan Pinnock, Joel Latibeaudiere, Ronaldo Webster, Kasey Palmer, Isaac Hayden, Tyreece Campbell, Bailey Cadamarteri, Leon Bailey, Bobby De Cordova-Reid
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 1:44 PM PDT
Türkiye toughs out the close win on the road and claims a World Cup spot in Group D with USA, Paraguay and Australia.
PRISTINA, KOSOVO – MARCH 31: Kenan Yildiz of Turkiye celebrates after a goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Europe Qualifiers play-off final match between Kosovo and Turkiye at the Fadil Vokrri Stadium in Pristina, Kosovo, on March 31, 2026. (Photo by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(Anadolu via Getty Images)
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 1:41 PM PDT
It took three tries, but Sweden’s third lead of the game finally held after Gyökeres late goal put the Swedes on top for good. They’re now headed to the World Cup to join Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia in Group F.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 1:34 PM PDT
Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres has nearly put Sweden into the World Cup with a close-range blast following several missed attempts. The Swedes are minutes away from booking their place in Group F alongside Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
Sean Leahy
Italy could not hold B&H off long enough. A cross leads to a scramble in the box and Haris Tabaković finishes it off to equalize.
Nervy moments for Italy, who have not been to the World Cup since 2014.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 1:27 PM PDT
Sean Leahy
Through 74 minutes, Bosnia and Herzegovina has fired seven shots on goal and recorded 21 shot attempts as Italy clings to a 1-0 lead down to 10-men.
Sean Leahy
The Italians remain up 1-0 in the 71st minute over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sean Leahy
Joachim Andersen has given his country life with a 72nd minute goal to level the score with Czechia.
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 1:04 PM PDT
Orkun Kökçü finds a driving Kerem Aktürkoglu for the quick close-range blast and the visitors find themselves with one foot in the World Cup. Can they hold on?
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 1:01 PM PDT
After a VAR review, Karol Swiderski’s goal stands and it’s 2-2 in Sweden.
Sean Leahy
Sean Leahy
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 12:37 PM PDT
Kosovo isn’t going out without a fight. The hosts have taken 5 shots to Türkiye’s 6, but have 1 on target compared to none for the visitors. Things should heat up in the second half with a World Cup berth on the line.
Sean Leahy
Italy 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 (Kean – 15′)
Czechia 1, Denmark 0 (Šulc – 3′)
Kosovo 0, Türkiye 0
Sweden 2, Poland 1 (Elanga – 19′, Lagerbielke – 44′ / Zalewski – 33′)
Tue, March 31, 2026 at 12:33 PM PDT
Gustaf Lagerbielke’s header off a set piece gives the hosts their second lead of the match just before halftime.
2026 World Cup playoff schedulePathway 1
March 26, 2026: New Caledonia 0-1 Jamaica
March 31, 2026: DR Congo vs. Jamaica – 5 p.m. ET (FS1)
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The winner of Pathway 1 will be a part of Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia.
Pathway 2
March 26, 2026: Bolivia 2-1 Suriname
March 31, 2026: Iraq vs. Bolivia – 11 p.m. ET (FS1)
The winner of Pathway 2 will be a part of Group I with France, Senegal and Norway.
UEFA Path A bracket
March 26, 2026: Italy 2, Northern Ireland 0
March 26, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina 1, Wales 1 (B&H advances after PKs)
March 31, 2026: Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy – extra time (FS1)
The winner of UEFA Path A will be a part of Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
UEFA Path B bracket
March 26, 2026: Sweden 3, Ukraine 1
March 26, 2026: Poland 2, Albania 1
March 31, 2026: Sweden 3, Poland 2
Sweden will be a part of Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
UEFA Path C bracket
March 26, 2026: Türkiye 1, Romania 0
March 26, 2026: Kosovo 4, Slovakia 3
March 31, 2026: Türkiye 1, Kosovo 0
Türkiye will be a part of Group D with the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
UEFA Path D bracket
March 26, 2026: Denmark 4, North Macedonia 0
March 26, 2026: Czechia 2, Ireland 2 (Czechia advances after PKs)
March 31, 2026: Czechia vs. Denmark – extra time (fuboTV)
The winner of UEFA Path D will be a part of Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.