The official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in December 2025, featuring the majority of confirmed teams. However, several slots will remain open and will appear in the draw as placeholders such as PO-A, PO-B, PO-C, PO-D, PO-E, and PO-F. These open positions will be later filled in March 2026 through both UEFA European Playoffs and the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Tournament, completing the full 48-team lineup.
This process allows FIFA to conduct the draw on schedule while still accommodating the final qualification matches that determine the last entrants into Pot 4.
Why Some Teams Won’t Be Known at the Time of the Draw
Although most teams will be confirmed by late 2025, Europe and intercontinental competitions will still have active playoff rounds:
- UEFA European Playoffs (March 2026): To determine the final European qualifiers
- FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs (March 2026): Featuring six teams competing for two World Cup spots
- Last continental qualifiers in Africa, Asia, and South America
Because of these timelines, six spots will remain open when the draw takes place.
Placeholder Format Used in the December 2025 Draw
During the draw, FIFA will assign unconfirmed teams using placeholders such as:
| Placeholder | Represents |
| PO-A | Playoff Winner A |
| PO-B | Playoff Winner B |
| PO-C | Playoff Winner C |
| PO-D | Playoff Winner D |
| PO-E | Playoff Winner E |
| PO-F | Playoff Winner F |
These placeholders will be assigned to groups during the draw and will later be replaced by the actual qualifying nations in March 2026.
Projected Pots for the December 2025 Draw
(Including confirmed qualifiers and playoff placeholders)
Pot 1
United States, Mexico, Canada, Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany
Pot 2
Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria, Australia
Pot 3
Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
Pot 4
Jordan, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Curaçao, Haiti, New Zealand
Plus placeholders: PO-A, PO-B, PO-C, PO-D, PO-E, PO-F
UEFA Playoff Path: The Final European Qualifiers
Europe receives the most qualification spots, but with 55 competing nations, not all will qualify directly. The remaining European slots will be decided via UEFA playoff matches in March 2026, featuring:
- Nations that finished second in their qualifying groups
- Top-performing teams from the UEFA Nations League not yet qualified
These European playoff winners will take some of the Pot 4 placeholders (likely PO-A, PO-B, PO-C).
FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs: The Final Global Spots
In March 2026, FIFA will host the Intercontinental Playoff tournament featuring teams from:
| Confederation | Expected Number of Teams |
| AFC (Asia) | 1 |
| CAF (Africa) | 1 |
| CONCACAF | 1 |
| CONMEBOL (South America) | 1 |
| OFC (Oceania) | 1 |
| Host continent (CONCACAF) | 1 (seeded host invitation) |
These six teams will compete for two World Cup spots, securing the final places in Pot 4.
How Final Teams Will Be Inserted After March 2026
- The December draw assigns placeholder slots to groups.
- Once playoff teams qualify in March, they will be inserted directly into their pre-drawn positions using those codes.
- Match schedules, promotions, and group fixtures will then be finalized.
Key Timeline
| Event | Date |
| FIFA World Cup Official Draw | December 2025 |
| UEFA & Intercontinental Playoffs | March 2026 |
| Final Group Confirmations | April 2026 |
| Tournament Kickoff | June 11, 2026 |
Why Playoff Teams Could Shape Group of Death Scenarios
Because strong teams like Ghana, Egypt, Chile, Norway, or Ukraine could end up entering Pot 4 through playoffs, some groups could become unexpectedly stronger after March 2026. Fans and analysts will closely monitor these playoff campaigns to predict what the final group landscape will look like.
Final Insight
The December 2025 draw will set the initial framework for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but it will not reveal the final picture. The UEFA European playoffs and FIFA Intercontinental playoffs in March 2026 will determine the last entrants, completing Pot 4 and finalizing the tournament’s full lineup.