All matches are scheduled for March 31.
European teams moved closer to securing places at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a series of dramatic play-off semi-final clashes on Thursday.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Czechia progressed via penalty shootouts, while Denmark, Italy, Kosovo, Poland, Sweden and Türkiye also recorded victories to book places in the play-off finals.
Meanwhile, in the intercontinental playoffs, DR Congo will face Jamaica, who beat New Caledonia at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico, earlier on Friday.
Here is the full list of results from the UEFA play-off semi-finals:
Path A
Wales 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (2-4 penalties)
Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
Bosnia and Herzegovina came from behind to force a shootout against Wales before Kerim Alajbegovic converted the decisive penalty to seal victory. Edin Dzeko had earlier equalised late in regulation time.
Italy secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Northern Ireland, with Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean scoring in the second half to send the Azzurri into the final.
Final fixture:
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy. Venue: Zenica (Bosnia and Herzegovina. Winner joins Group B alongside Canada, Switzerland and Qatar.
Path B
Poland 2-1 Albania
Ukraine 1-3 Sweden.
Poland rallied from a goal down to beat Albania, with Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski scoring to secure victory.
Sweden cruised past Ukraine thanks to a hat-trick from Viktor Gyokeres, sealing a dominant 3-1 win.
Final fixture:
Sweden vs Poland. Venue: Sweden (home advantage for Sweden). Winner joins Group F alongside Japan, the Netherlands and Tunisia.
Path C
Slovakia 3-4 Kosovo
Türkiye 1-0 Romania
Kosovo edged a seven-goal thriller against Slovakia to move within one match of a historic first World Cup appearance.
Türkiye defeated Romania 1-0, with Ferdi Kadioglu scoring the decisive goal in the second half.
Final fixture:
Kosovo vs Türkiye. Venue: Pristina (Kosovo). Winner joins Group C alongside USA, Paraguay and Australia.
Path D
Czechia 2-2 Republic of Ireland (4-3 penalties)
Denmark 4-0 North Macedonia
Czechia overturned a two-goal deficit against the Republic of Ireland before winning on penalties in Prague.
Denmark delivered a commanding second-half performance to thrash North Macedonia 4-0, with Mikkel Damsgaard, Gustav Isaksen (brace), and Christian Eriksen on target.
Final fixture:
Czechia vs Denmark. Venue: Prague (Czechia). Winner joins Group D alongside Australia, Paraguay and USA.
The play-off finals will decide Europe’s final four qualifiers for the 2026 tournament.
Intercontinental Play-off
Pathway 1
New Caledonia o-1 Jamaica
Final fixture: Jamaica vs DR Congo (final on March 31). Venue: Estadio Akron in Zapopan, Mexico
Pathway 2
Bolivia 2-1 Suriname
Final fixture:
Bolivia vs Iraq (final)
Only the two final winners of the Intercontinental will secure a place at the World Cup.
All matches are scheduled for March 31.
The expanded 48-team 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
