Kosovo, Sweden, Italy and Denmark are through. Find out who they face in Tuesday's World Cup playoff finals and where to get the best odds.
The European World Cup playoff semi-finals are now in the books, and the four decisive finals are officially set. With a place at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico on the line, the stakes could not be higher. All four finals will be played on Tuesday, March 31, with four nations set to secure the final European qualification spots.
The Four Playoff Finals
Path A: Italy vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Italy progressed with a professional 2-0 win over Northern Ireland, with Moise Kean sealing the result in the second half. Bosnia and Herzegovina pulled off one of the shocks of the night, edging past Wales on penalties after a 1-1 draw that went the distance. Edin Dzeko’s late header forced extra time before Bosnia held their nerve from the spot. They now face a much tougher challenge against the Azzurri. The winner will join Group B alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Path B: Sweden vs Poland
Sweden produced one of the standout performances of the round, beating Ukraine 3-1 away from home. Viktor Gyokeres was at the heart of everything good for Graham Potter’s side. Poland, meanwhile, secured a 2-1 win over Albania in Warsaw to book their place in the final. With Robert Lewandowski leading the line, this promises to be a tightly contested clash between two experienced sides. The winner will move into Group F with the Netherlands, Japan and Tunisia.
Path C: Kosovo vs Turkey
The biggest story of the night came in Path C, where Kosovo stunned Slovakia in a dramatic 4-3 win. Hajrizi’s goal in the 72nd minute proved decisive in a game full of twists and turns, marking one of the most memorable results in Kosovo’s history. They now face Turkey, who navigated their semi-final with a controlled 1-0 win over Romania. For Kosovo, this is a chance to qualify for their first-ever major tournament, making this the biggest match in their history. The winner will enter Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay and Australia.
Path D: Denmark vs Czech Republic
Denmark delivered one of the most dominant performances of the round, thrashing North Macedonia 4-0 with Christian Eriksen among the goals. The Czech Republic had a far tougher route, drawing 2-2 with the Republic of Ireland before progressing 4-3 on penalties. This final brings together two well-matched sides and is expected to be one of the closest contests. The winner will join Group A with Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.
When Are The Finals Played?
All four finals will be played on Tuesday, March 31, with kick-off times scheduled for either 5 PM or 7:45 PM GMT. The winners will secure the final European spots at the 2026 World Cup, joining the already qualified nations in what promises to be a blockbuster tournament in North America.
BresBet
Who Is The Favourite To Win The 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Spain are the betting favourite to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Latest odds imply roughly a 20% chance of European Champions lifting the trophy, ahead of England and Brazil at 14% and 12% respectively.
| World Cup Winner | Best Odds | Bookmaker |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 23/5 | SpreadEx |
| England | 6/1 | Coral |
| France | 7/1 | 888Sport |
| Argentina | 8/1 | Skybet |
| Brazil | 17/2 | Sporting Index |
Odds last updated at 11PM Thursday, 26th March. Find out complete odds on Oddschecker's 2026 World Cup page.
