Overview
- Four European berths will be decided via single‑leg paths with semifinals on March 26 and finals on March 31, completing the expanded 48‑team field.
- Italy hosts Northern Ireland in a semifinal and would visit Wales or Bosnia‑Herzegovina if it reaches the path final; other ties include Ukraine–Sweden, Poland–Albania, Turkey–Romania, Slovakia–Kosovo, Denmark–North Macedonia and Czech Republic–Ireland.
- Final hosting rights were drawn: the winners of Wales–Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Ukraine–Sweden, Slovakia–Kosovo and Czech Republic–Ireland will stage their respective finals.
- Two intercontinental spots will be settled in Guadalajara and Monterrey from March 23–31, with DR Congo and Iraq seeded into the finals and semifinals set as New Caledonia–Jamaica and Bolivia–Suriname.
- The Dec. 5 group draw in Washington will include playoff placeholders, with Germany already qualified and tracking for Pot 1 after its 6:0 win over Slovakia as UEFA studies future qualifying reforms.