The 22 teams that can still qualify for the World Cup

Dzeko (No 11) playing for Bosnia and Herzegovina
“The play-offs for the 2026 World Cup get underway on Thursday (March 26), with 22 teams still battling to qualify for the tournament in North America in June and July. Sixteen European sides are contesting the UEFA matches and six teams from around the world are taking part in the inter-confederation fixtures. The European nations have been split into four paths of four, with each section consisting of a semi-final and a final. Meanwhile, at the inter-confederation play-offs — which are being played in Mexico — the six sides have been divided into two paths of three, with the seeded team in each, DR Congo and Iraq, given a bye to the respective finals. Overall, four sides will advance from the European section and two from the inter-confederation one. All six finals will take place on March 31 (local time). So, here are the 22 national teams still dreaming of reaching the tournament and what you need to know about them ahead of what promises to be a mouth-watering feast of football. …”
NY Times/The Athletic