World Cup Play-Offs: Key Teams and Matchups to Watch The World Cup play-offs begin on Thursday, with four European spots up for grabs for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The competition features 16 teams, including the 12 second-place finishers from World Cup qualifying groups and the four top-ranked Nations League group winners who missed out through qualification. The draw divides the teams into four paths, each with four teams, and includes one-legged semi-finals and finals. Northern Ireland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland have never all qualified for the same World Cup, adding intrigue to their play-off journeys. Northern Ireland, last at the World Cup in 1986, faces Italy in their semi-final. A victory over Italy would set up a potential final against Wales, which hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina. Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has praised the venue in Bergamo, stating it suits his team better than iconic stadiums like San Siro or the Stadio Olimpico. Wales, aiming for a second consecutive World Cup, will face Bosnia-Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium. Their manager, Craig Bellamy, described the opposition as a "different beast," though Wales has not won any of their previous four encounters with Bosnia. Sweden, despite a star-studded squad including Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Anthony Elanga, faces a tough path. The team finished bottom of their qualifying group but secured a play-off spot by topping their Nations League pool. They will travel to Valencia to face Ukraine at a neutral venue due to the war in Ukraine. Manager Graham Potter, who previously led Swedish club Ostersunds FK to a historic Cup win in 2017, returns to his homeland after managing Chelsea and West Ham.#italy #northern_ireland #world_cup_playoffs #wales #republic_of_ireland
