The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has officially designated the cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico as the hosts for the crucial intercontinental playoff tournament. This event will determine the final two national teams that will qualify for the prestigious FIFA World Cup 2026. This significant announcement sets the stage for six nations to compete fiercely for these coveted spots, with the matches to be held on Mexican soil. The teams preparing to battle it out for qualification include Iraq, Congo, Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia, and New Caledonia.
Both the Estadio Akron in Guadalajara and the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey are prominent venues that are also slated to host matches during the main 2026 FIFA World Cup tournament. Guadalajara’s Estadio Akron has been assigned to host four group stage matches, while Monterrey’s Estadio BBVA will feature three group stage fixtures and one Round of 32 encounter during the quadrennial global showpiece. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has previously lauded both Mexican stadiums, recognizing them as exceptionally suitable locations for hosting a range of future international football events.
Looking ahead, the draw for these highly anticipated intercontinental playoffs is scheduled to take place on November 20 at FIFA’s central headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Following the completion of the draw for the six competing teams, the official match schedule for the tournament will be promptly announced by FIFA.
Currently, 42 national teams have already secured their qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. These qualified teams include the three co-host nations themselves. There are now only six remaining qualification berths up for grabs. Four of these spots will be determined through the second round of UEFA qualifiers, while the final two highly sought-after places will be awarded to the victors of these intercontinental playoffs.
The 42 teams that have already earned their place among the 48 participants in the FIFA World Cup 2026 include:
* **From North America (CONCACAF):** Co-hosts United States, Canada, and Mexico, along with Curaçao, Haiti, and Panama from the Caribbean region.
* **From Asia (AFC):** Saudi Arabia, Australia, Qatar, South Korea, Iran, Japan, Jordan, and Uzbekistan.
* **From Africa (CAF):** Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia.
* **From South America (CONMEBOL):** Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
* **From Europe (UEFA):** England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Scotland, and Switzerland.
* **From Oceania (OFC):** New Zealand.
