The article provides an extensive update on the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification process, focusing on the intercontinental and European play-offs. Six teams—Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, Bolivia, Suriname, and New Caledonia—are competing for two remaining spots in the tournament, which will be held in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The draw for these play-offs is scheduled for Thursday in Zurich at 1 PM, with matches set between March 23 and 31, 2026, in Guadalajara and Monterrey. The intercontinental play-offs involve a mini-tournament featuring six teams from Africa, Asia, Oceania, South America, and North America. The top-ranked teams, DR Congo and Iraq, are already seeded into the finals, while the other four teams will be drawn into semi-finals. The winners of these semi-finals will face the seeded teams for the final tickets. Meanwhile, the European play-offs include 16 teams divided into four pots, with matches taking place in March 2026. The top European teams like Italy, Denmark, Turkey, and Ukraine are in Pot 1, and will face teams from Pot 4, which includes Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, and Northern Ireland. The winners will secure the last European tickets. Additionally, the article discusses the upcoming group draw for the World Cup, highlighting potential opponents for Germany, which is seeded in Top Pot 1. It also mentions the qualification status of other nations, including Haiti, which celebrated its first World Cup qualification in 52 years, and the possibility of facing high-profile teams like Norway with Erling Haaland. The tournament locations are likely to include multiple venues in the USA, with Germany’s coach Julian Nagelsmann having visited the US for scouting. The article emphasizes the excitement surrounding the draw and the tournament, including the possibility of facing well-known teams or emerging surprises like Haiti or Curaçao.