​European World Cup Playoff Pots: Italy and Denmark in Pot 1, Sweden and North Macedonia in Pot 4

November 19 – Following the conclusion of all group stage matches in the European World Cup qualifiers, the 16 teams set to compete in the playoffs have been finalized.

According to FIFA rankings, these teams will be divided into four pots for the playoff draw. One team from each pot will be drawn into four separate paths, with the winner of each path's single-elimination knockout tournament securing a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

The semifinals in each path will feature a Pot 1 team hosting a Pot 4 team. The host for the path final will be determined after the draw.

The pots are structured as follows:

- Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine  
- Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia  
- Pot 3: Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo  
- Pot 4: Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland  

Source: X