The European World Cup 2026 play-offs, due to kick off next month, have thrown up some teasing scenarios, and a handful of the continent’s bigger players are at risk of missing out on the North American showcase.
Beneath the likes of Spain and Argentina, the nations which the World Cup 2026 betting odds predict will challenge for the trophy, there are a clutch of teams which can go deep into the competition next summer; and some of them will be in action next month in a high stakes play-off, notably four times World Cup winners Italy, currently 13th in the FIFA World Rankings.
The play-offs, to be played in the last week of March, will also feature 1992 European Champions Denmark and a dangerous Turkey, previously semi-finalists at the World Cup and the European Championships.
The European play-offs are divided into four pathways; Italy in A, Turkey in C and Denmark in D. But take a look at pathway C and we have a battle royal to look forward to, where all four nations have high hopes of making it through to the finals. At 30th, 34th and 42nd in the world rankings, Ukraine, Poland and Sweden are a well matched trio, and the group is made up by Albania, who showed up well at the 2024 European Championships, acquitting themselves admirably in the ‘Group of Death’ which contained Spain, Italy and Croatia.
Pathway C is hard to call and the action kicks off on 26th March when Ukraine meet Sweden and Poland face Albania. And the Albanians will face one of the most prolific strikers of the last 15 years when Robert Lewandowski leads the Poles into battle. With 88 goals in 163 appearances for his country, the Barcelona man is an inspiration to his younger team-mates. But Poland are not short of top level experience, with Inter Milan star Piotr Zielinski in midfield and wingbacks Matty Cash and Jakub Kiwior well known to Premier League fans.
Albania will put up a fight. Led by Atalanta’s imposing centre back and skipper Berat Djimsiti, the Red and Blacks will not be cowed by more famous opponents, and Burnley’s 24 year old striker Armando Broja will certainly test the Poland defence.
The winners between Poland and Albania will meet whichever nation emerges from a fascinating match-up of Ukraine and Sweden. Everton defender Vitaliy Mykolenko and former Manchester City man Oleksandr Zinchenko are the established stars of Ukraine and Lyon striker Roman Yaremchuk is an exciting player, but they will have their work cut out to break down a resolute Sweden rearguard.
Now managed by former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, Sweden are captained by Aston Villa centre back Victor Lindelof and will be well organised at the back as ever, but they also have one of the most highly rated strikers in European football in Arsenal star Viktor Gyokeres. With 15 goals in 30 games for Sweden the 27 year old hit man scored a whopping 68 goals in 66 games for Sporting Lisbon before his switch to Arsenal and he is gradually finding his feet in the Premier League.
The Sweden versus Ukraine play-off could go either way and I suspect the winners will face Lewandowski’s Poland in the sudden death final.
Elsewhere, it would be huge World Cup 2026 news if Italy were to fail to qualify for a third successive finals, and the Azzurri should be able to negotiate pathway A. They play Northern Ireland and, should Italy avoid that banana skin they will meet Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final test.
One of the rising stars of European football, Turkey, will hope to emerge from pathway C unscathed, though they will face stiff opposition in Romania in their opener, with the winners taking on either Kosovo or Slovakia. Captained by Inter Milan ace Hakan Calhanoglu, the Turks have two of the most exciting young footballers in world football. Both 20 years of age, Real Madrid’s Arda Guler and Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz have earned 26 international caps each and, as attacking midfielders they can both tear apart a defence with a mazy run or a killer pass.
And then in pathway D, it is Denmark fancied to negotiate a match against North Macedonia and then a date with the winners of the Czech Republic and Republic of Ireland clash. The Danish team is packed with quality, with Wolfsburg’s Christian Eriksen in midfield alongside Brentford star Mikkel Damsgaard, and Napoli’s Rasmus Hojlund hitting fine form up front.
I’ll be surprised if any of Denmark, Italy and Turkey fall at this hurdle; and while Group C is tighter…it’s Poland for me.
The World Cup finals are just four months away and, here at SBOTOP we’re getting geared up already but, in the meantime, let’s enjoy the drama and nail-biting tension along with the nations who aim to be there.
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