The FIFA World Cup 2026™ Play-Off Tournament is done and dusted, as Congo DR and Iraq have secured their places in the global finals.
Across Guadalajara Stadium and Monterrey Stadium, six teams gathered in hopes of achieving their World Cup dream, delivering memorable moments and producing heroes that will go down in their footballing histories.
FIFA take a look back at the week that was in Mexico.
Path A – Guadalajara Stadium
The Reggae Boyz overcame a valiant effort from the Oceania upstarts to secure their place in the final thanks to a Bailey Cadamarteri goal in the 18th minute. In their first match playing under interim coach Rudolph Speid, the Caribbean side displayed a solid defensive front and pragmatic approach in all phases. New Caledonia won over many neutrals for their fighting spirit throughout, but in the end the spoils, and a place in the decider, belonged to Jamaica.
Congo DR achieved their World Cup dream in dramatic fashion, edging Jamaica thanks to an Axel Tuanzebe goal in extra time. It was tough sledding for the Leopards, who were in pursuit of their first global finals since 1974. Jamaica goalkeeper Andre Blake kept them at bay for the initial 90 minutes, but in the extra frame the Congo DR attack finally broke through, and tallied a goal that will long live in Congolese football lore. The African side now head to World Cup 2026, where they will meet Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan in Group K.
Path B – Monterrey Stadium
A scintillating contest saw Bolivia rally from a second half deficit to down Suriname to book their place in the final. A scoreless first half gave way to a much more open second stanza, and it was Liam Van Gelderen pouncing on a loose ball to open the scoring for the Concacaf side. But with the help of their boisterous fans, Bolivia had an answer in the form of 18-year-old Moises Paniagua, who entered just shy of the hour mark and duly supplied the equaliser in the 72nd minute. The South Americans had Suriname on their heels, and a calmly converted penalty conversion from Miguel Terceros paved the way for Bolivia’s place in the final.
An electric atmosphere greeted these two sides and the football itself was even better, as a second half goal from veteran forward Aymen Hussein sealed a 2-1 triumph for the Lions of Mesopotamia. Iraq raced out of the gates and held an early lead through Ali Alhamadi. But like in their semi-final with Suriname, a deficit spurred Bolivia into action and wonderkid Moises Paniagua struck to bring the South Americans level, giving the 18-year-old his second goal of the Play-Off Tournament. Things stood on a knife’s edge to start the second stanza and a brilliant combination between Hussein and winger Marko Farji ended with Hussein’s decisive strike and a spot in World Cup Group I alongside France, Norway and Senegal.
