Sweden, Turkiye, Czechia, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina and DR Congo are all heading to the 2026 World Cup this summer after coming out victorious in the qualification playoffs on Tuesday.
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This will only be Bosnia and Herzegovina’s second trip to the World Cup as an independent nation (2014) and they did it in incredibly dramatic fashion, taking down powerhouse Italy in a penalty shootout in Zenica. Moise Kean scored the opener in the 15th minute and the Azzurri defended like their World Cup dreams depended on it after Alessandro Bastoni was sent off in the 51st. The 1-0 scoreline held until Haris Tabakovic pulled the home side level in the 79th. Italy’s Francisco Esposito and Bryan Cristante were unsuccessful from the spot and Gianluigi Donnarumma was unable to make a save.
That’ll be three straight World Cups without Italy — the four-time champions — in the tournament, after they previously failed to qualify in 2018 and 2022.
Sweden qualified by beating Poland 3-2 on home soil in Solna, with Anthony Elanga scoring first and Viktor Gyokeres bagging the winner in the 88th. The Swedes failed to qualify in 2022 after reaching the quarterfinals in 2018.
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Turkiye hadn’t been to the World Cup since 2002, when they finished 3rd in South Korea and Japan. This is only their third time qualifying after debuting in 1954. Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal to beat Kosovo 1-0 in Pristina.
It’s a similar story for Czechia, who had only qualified once for the World Cup (2006) since the turn of the millennium. The Czechs went ahead of Denmark after just three minutes, before Joachim Andersen pulled Denmark level in the 72nd. Ladislav Krejci scrambled home a corner kick 10 minutes into extra-time to put Czechia back in front, but again the Danes equalized through Kasper Hogh in the 112th. It was a nightmare shootout for Denmark, though, as Rasmus Hojlund hit the crossbar, Anders Dreyer was stopped by Matej Kovar, and Mathias Jensen blazed one into the night sky in Prague.
DR Congo failed to qualify in their first six attempts as they are currently known (previously qualified once, as Zaire, in 1974). The Leopards beat Jamaica in the first or two inter-confederation playoffs, as Axel Tuanzebe scored the only goal in the 100th minute.
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Iraq surprised some by beating Bolivia 2-1 through goals from Luton Town’s Ali Al Hamadi and Al-Karma’s Ayman Hussein in the Path B final to reach the World Cup for the first time since 40 years ago in Mexico, the same nation where they won their place for 2026. Former Australia boss Graham Arnold leads the Lions of Mesopotamia into the tournament in search of their first points after going 0-0-3 in 1986.
What groups will the newly-qualified nations join at the World Cup?
Czechia will face Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea in Group A.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will meet Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B.
Turkiye will deal with the United States, Paraguay, and Australia in Group D.
Sweden will join the Netherlands, Japan, and Tunisia in Group F.
DR Congo is lined up for matches with Portugal, Uzbekistan, and Colombia in Group K.
Iraq is into Group I with France, Senegal, and Norway.
