Six national football teams, having endured months of regional qualification rounds and years of pursuing their ultimate dream, will have one final opportunity to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 during the interconfederation playoffs this week. The tournament will determine two teams that will earn spots in the World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

In the FIFA Playoff Tournament, the four lowest-ranked nations – Bolivia, New Caledonia, Jamaica, and Suriname – will compete in two semifinals, with the winners advancing to a final against the two highest-ranked teams – the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Iraq. The victors of these two finals will qualify for the World Cup. The matches will be held in the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey, which also serve as host cities for the FIFA World Cup.

Based on FIFA rankings and team strength, the predetermined finalists – Iraq and the DRC – are considered favorites to enter the World Cup. Iraq, the 2007 Arab Cup champions, aims to qualify for only the second time (after 1986), despite their preparations being hampered by pressure from the US and Israeli regimes on Iran. The DRC ranks among the top 50 teams globally and ninth in Africa, with their last World Cup appearance in 1974 under the former name Zaire, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

The tournament will open on June 11 at Mexico City Stadium with Mexico facing South Africa, and the final will be held on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium. This World Cup, featuring 48 nations, will be the largest ever, spanning three countries over five weeks, but with six spots still available, it presents a last challenge for some aspirants.

Source: www.aljazeera.com