Dreams will be realised and hearts will be broken as the final spots at World Cup 2026 are claimed in the qualifying play-offs at the end of March.
16 European teams still hold hope of reaching this summer’s tournament in North America but only four of them can make it to the promised land.
Northern Ireland travel to Bergamo to face Italy in the Path A semi-finals, the winner of which will take on either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Republic of Ireland are up against Czech Republic in Prague in the Path D semi-final, with either Denmark or North Macedonia waiting for them in the next round.
Elsewhere, six nations battle it out for the other two places in the inter-confederation play-offs.
A place at the World Cup feels within reach for the remaining teams, with just two wins needed to punch their ticket for the global festival of football, but the single-leg knockout format means that the hopes of a nation can be dashed in an instant.
Radio Times brings you the complete World Cup 2026 qualifying play-offs TV schedule, including every game you can watch live in the UK.
Read more: Best players in the world | Best players of all time
World Cup 2026 qualifying play-offs schedule 2025/26
All UK time. Subject to change.
Thursday 26 March
UEFA Path A semi-finals
- Wales v Bosnia Herzegovina (7:45pm) BBC One Wales / BBC Two / S4C / BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport website / S4C Online
- Italy v Northern Ireland (7:45pm) BBC One NI / BBC Three / BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport website
UEFA Path B semi-finals
UEFA Path C semi-finals
UEFA Path D semi-finals
Inter-confederation semi-finals
- Bolivia v Suriname (10pm) FIFA+
Friday 27 March
Inter-confederation semi-finals
- New Caledonia v Jamaica (3am) FIFA+
Tuesday 31 March
UEFA Path A final
- Wales/Bosnia Herzegovina v Italy/Northern Ireland (7:45) TBC
UEFA Path B final
- Ukraine/Sweden v Poland/Albania (7:45) TBC
UEFA Path C final
- Slovakia/Kosovo v Turkey/Romania (7:45) TBC
UEFA Path D final
- Czech Republic/Republic of Ireland v Denmark/North Macedonia (7:45) TBC
Inter-confederation finals
- DR Congo v New Caledonia/Jamaica (10pm) FIFA+
Wednesday 1 April
Inter-confederation finals
- Iraq v Bolivia/Suriname (4am) FIFA+
World Cup 2026 qualifying play-offs TV rights 2025/26
Fans can watch Wales and Northern Ireland matches live on the BBC. As well as coverage on one of the regional BBC One channels and another main TV channel, viewers also have the option to tune in via BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sport website.
S4C will also offer a Welsh language broadcast, both on TV and online, of all Wales games.
FIFA+ will have live coverage of the Inter-confederation play-off matches.
The rest of the UEFA play-offs, including the Republic of Ireland’s games, will be available on Amazon Prime Video on a pay-per-view basis. PPV games on Amazon Prime Video usually cost £2.49 per game.
Check out more of our Sport coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.