Wales are in the play-offs for the World Cup next March and will have a home semi-final after finishing second in their qualifying group
Wales discover their World Cup play-off opponents on Thursday(Image: Pro Sports Images)
Wales will discover their potential route to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday when the European play-off draw is made in Zurich.
After hammering North Macedonia 7-1 on Tuesday night to clinch second place in their qualifying group, Wales are now just two wins away from reaching the finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but they must first navigate a tense play-off path first.
Here’s everything you need to know about the draw and how the World Cup play-offs actually work…
When is the draw?
The draw takes place on Thursday, November 20 at 12pm. It will take place at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
It will confirm the eight semi-final ties and map out each of the four play-off paths. You’ll be able to follow live updates of the draw on WalesOnline.
Who is in the play-offs?
Sixteen teams will compete for four remaining European spots at the 2026 World Cup.
Group runners-up: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Wales, Czechia, Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Republic of Ireland, Slovakia, Türkiye, Ukraine.
Nations League qualifiers: Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia.
Who has already qualified for the 2026 World Cup?
Twelve European nations are already through as group winners: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, England, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Switzerland.
They will be joined by the four teams who win their play-off paths.
Detailed view of the 2026 World Cup trophy (Image: Getty Images)How the play-offs work
The play-offs are split into four knockout paths, each containing:
- Two one-legged semi-finals
- One final
The winner of each path qualifies for the World Cup.
Match dates:
- Semi-finals: Thursday, 26 March 2026
- Finals: Tuesday, 31 March 2026
Seeding – Wales confirmed in Pot 2
Teams are ranked 1–16 and split across four pots:
Pot 1: Runners-up ranked 1-4
Italy, Denmark, Türkiye, Ukraine
Pot 2: Runners-up ranked 5-8
Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia
Pot 3: Runners-up ranked 9-12
Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo
Pot 4: Nations League qualifiers
Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
Wales’ position in Pot 2 means:
- They are seeded
- They will play their semi-final at home
- They cannot face a Pot 1 team in the semi-final
- A separate draw will determine who hosts the final
How the draw works
- Pot 1 teams are drawn into semi-finals 1, 3, 5 and 7 (as hosts).
- Pot 2 teams – including Wales – are drawn into semi-finals 2, 4, 6 and 8 (also as hosts).
- Pot 3 teams fill the away slots in semi-finals 2, 4, 6 and 8.
- Pot 4 teams fill the away slots in semi-finals 1, 3, 5 and 7.
A further draw will then decide which semi-final winner hosts each final.
What this means for Wales
Wales’ seeding offers a valuable advantage:
- They will play their semi-final in Cardiff on 26 March
- They will face one of Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina or Kosovo
- They avoid the strongest sides – Italy, Denmark, Türkiye and Ukraine – in the first match
- The draw will set out both their opponents and whether any potential final will be home or away
Two positive results, starting with a home semi-final, would secure Wales a place at the 2026 World Cup.