World Cup 2026 spots are on the line in UEFA and Concacaf, while Nigeria and Congo DR are playing for a spot in the intercontinental playoff.

There is so much going on in the AFC region, as brilliant scraps for the automatic places at the 2026 World Cup have six teams already qualified for the tournament.

Lose and the wait for a World Cup spot could extend another four years. Win and there's a shot at one of the last two places in the expanded 48-team global tournament for 2026. Iraq and United Arab Emirates each have one last chance to stay on the road to the 2026 World Cup in a two-game series in the fifth round of Asian qualification.

With just over seven months to go until the finals, there are 20 spots still to be decided across the next two international breaks

Six teams will play in the inter-confederation playoffs: one from CONMEBOL, one from Oceania, one from Asia, one from Africa, and two from CONCACAF.

The United Arab Emirates and Iraq face off in a double-header to reach the Inter-continental Playoffs.

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates and Iraq drew 1-1 Thursday in the first leg of their 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff in Abu Dhabi. The teams will travel to the Iraqi port city of Basra for Tuesday’s return match in the fifth round of Asian qualifying.

Nigeria will play DR Congo on Sunday with the winner to represent Africa in the World Cup inter-confederation play-offs. On Thursday, Nigeria defeated Gabon 4-1 in extra time, with DR Congo overcoming Cameroon 1-0 as a last-minute Chancel Mbemba winner set up Sunday’s final at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

Italy national team head coach Gennaro Gattuso was critical of the World Cup qualification process, as he feels that it is now harder for European teams to qualify, despite an increase in the number