The final stage of the European World Cup Qualifiers kicks off today, Thursday, March 26, featuring crucial matches for footballing nations like Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and Turkey. A total of 16 teams will compete this evening, with eight facing elimination. By March 31, only four teams will remain, securing the last available spots for the World Cup in June.
Of the 16 participating teams, twelve earned their place by finishing second in the previous qualification process: Slovakia, Kosovo, Denmark, Ukraine, Türkiye, Republic of Ireland, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Wales, Albania, and Czechia. Four additional teams joined based on their superior performance in the preceding UEFA Nations League edition: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, and Northern Ireland.
European Play-off Matches:
- Italy vs. Northern Ireland: 20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT
- Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina: 20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT
- Ukraine vs. Sweden: 20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT
- Poland vs. Albania: 20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT
- Turkey vs. Romania: 18:00 CET, 17:00 GMT
- Slovakia vs. Kosovo: 20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT
- Denmark vs. North Macedonia: 20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT
- Czech Republic vs. Republic of Ireland: 20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT
Simultaneously, inter-confederation play-offs will determine the final two remaining slots for this summer’s FIFA competition, also taking place on March 26 and 31.
Inter-confederation Play-off Matches:
- Bolivia vs. Suriname: 23:00 CET, 22:00 GMT
- New Caledonia vs. Jamaica: 04:00 CET, 03:00 GMT (Friday)
How to Watch the European Qualifiers (March 26-31):
UEFA will broadcast all these matches through various broadcasters across the continent. While not all matches may be available in every country, a selection of games can be accessed via a premium subscription on UEFA.TV.
Additionally, here is a list of European broadcasters scheduled to air the World Cup qualification matches:
- Belgium: VTM GO, DAZN, RTBF Auvio
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: BHRT, Arena Sport
- Bulgaria: BNT, gong.bg
- Croatia: gol
- Cyprus: CyBC, Cytavision
- Czechia: CT Sport, Sport1 TV
- Denmark: TV2 PLAY
- Estonia: ERR
- Finland: MTV Katsomo, Yle Areena
- France: lequipe.fr, TF1+
- Georgia: Channel1, Silk TV (Silknet)
- Germany: ARD Sportschau, DAZN, RTL+, ZDF sportstudio live
- Greece: alphatv, NOVA Greece
- Hungary: M4 Sport Online, TV2 Play, NET4+
- Iceland: Viaplay, Vefsjónvarp Stöd 2
- Italy: RAI PLAY, Sky Sport
- Netherlands: NOS, Ziggo Sport
- Norway: TV 2 Play
- Poland: Polsat Box Go, TVP Sport
- Portugal: RTP Portugal, Sport TV Portugal
- Republic of Ireland: RTÉ, Virgin Media Ireland
- Romania: Antena 1, CLEVER MEDIA ROMANIA, Digi Sport
- Serbia: Arena Sport, RTS Serbia
- Slovakia: STVR Sport, Sport1 TV
- Slovenia: Sportklub
- Spain: RTVE PLAY, UEFA.tv
- Sweden: Viaplay
- Switzerland: RSI, RTS, SRF, DAZN
- Türkiye: EXXEN, S Sport TV
- Ukraine: Megogo
- United Kingdom: BBC iPlayer, ITV1, S4C Clic, Prime Video UK