TIRANA, November 20 – Albania will play Poland in the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-off. Kosova will face Slovakia. The draw took place at the headquarters of the International Federation of Football (FIFA) in Zurich.

If Albania wins, it will meet the winner of Ukraine–Sweden. Kosova will meet the winner of Turkey–Romania.

The play-off semifinals will be played on 26 March 2026. The finals will follow on 31 March 2026.

Both teams were placed in Pot Three. This placement avoided a direct match between them. Albania and Kosova will play their first match away. The reason is the higher coefficient of Pot Two teams. The match will be single-leg. Extra time will follow if it ends in a draw. Penalties will decide the winner if extra time does not produce a result.

Winning teams will not play single-leg matches in the next round. They will play two-leg fixtures.

The draw also set Italy–Northern Ireland, Wales–Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ukraine–Sweden, Turkey–Romania, Denmark–North Macedonia and Czechia–Ireland.

Only four teams out of 16 participants will secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.

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