World Cup 2026 European play-offs: last four winners

The Dragons slay Italy to snatch World Cup return

Hosts and victims. That was what Bosnia and Herzegovina were universally cast as heading into the UEFA play-off finals. Italy were the comfortably heaviest of the four favourites, ahead of Türkiye, Denmark and Sweden. This would be their FIFA World Cup return party, CE Report informs via FIFA's official website.

Bosnians, however, don’t read scripts and never throw in towels. They pulled off an Ali-versus-Foreman comeback in Wales in the semi-finals, Edin Dzeko snatching a last-gasp equaliser before they transformed a deficit into victory on penalties. They had, the consensus said, already punched above their weight. The four-time world champions would be a goliath too indomitable for the Dragons to slay.

That appeared set to be the case when Gennaro Gattuso’s Azzuri raced ahead through Moise Kean. Once again, though, the Dragons refused to throw in the towel. Bosnian hope hiked when Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for stopping Amar Memic going through on goal. Despite pumping ball after ball into the box, though, they were incessantly denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma and his defensive soldiers.

Then, with time running out, Haris Tabakovic scrapped home a loose ball to equalise. When extra time passed by goalless, Italy were once again expected to prevail. Filling their goal, after all, was the 1.96m frame of Gianluigi Donnarumma.

The 27-year-old may have repelled penalties from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and most recently Vinicius Jr, but he was unable to stop attempts from Esmir Bajraktarevic, Kerim Alajbegovic, Tabakovic and Benjamin Tahirovic. Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante sent their efforts over and back off the crossbar.

Czechia ends 20-year World Cup wait

Czechia have qualified for FIFA World Cup 2026 after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over Denmark, securing their first return to the global showpiece since Germany 2006.

Miroslav Koubek's side emerged from the UEFA play-offs after initially overcoming Republic of Ireland on spot-kicks in their semi-final, before once again demonstrating that they can hold their nerve from 12 yards with a 3-1 success against the Danes, following a 2-2 draw over 120 nerve-shredding minutes in Prague.

Czechia's reward is a place in Group A of the tournament, where they will face Korea Republic in Guadalajara, South Africa in Atlanta, and co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City.

Türkiye seal emotional World Cup return

Türkiye have sealed their place at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ after Vincenzo Montella expertly guided the Crescent Stars through the European play-offs.

Thanks to their narrow 1-0 victory over Kosovo on Tuesday, which was sealed by an opportunistic effort from Kerem Akturkoglu, the Turks secured their third appearance overall in the global finals and their first since Korea/Japan 2002, when they incredibly finished third.

Sweden secure World Cup ticket

After eight long years, Sweden will return to the FIFA World Cup following a topsy-turvy, revenge-laced 3-2 victory over Poland in the Path B European play-off final.

The Scandinavians failed to win any of their six qualifiers for the tournament and finished bottom of Group B, but qualified for the play-offs thanks to their UEFA Nations League ranking.

From there, Graham Potter's side eased past Ukraine in the semi-finals, before an 88th-minute goal from Viktor Gyokeres finally saw off Poland in dramatic circumstances. The victory was made even sweeter by the fact that Poland had defeated Sweden at this stage ahead of Qatar 2022.

Photo: FIFA