How to Watch World Cup Play-Off Draw? TV Channel, and Start Time

Today's play-off draw marks the final stage of qualification for the remaining World Cup 2026 contenders. While 42 nations have already secured their spots for next summer’s tournament, there are 16 European teams whose ambitions rest on March’s perilous play-offs, which will take place after the World Cup group-stage draw is conducted on 5 December. Only four of that group will advance to the finals, which will take place in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The Republic of Ireland advanced to the play-offs behind group winners Portugal thanks to a thrilling last-minute goal from Troy Parrott against Hungary. Wales and Northern Ireland also secured play-off spots.

Today's draw will determine who will play whom in single-leg knockout matches, potentially determining their route to qualification. Each country will have two victories away from the World Cup as semi-finals before a final is played after the 16 teams are divided into four sets of four.

Now, fans will be wondering where to watch the FIFA World Cup draw live. In this article, we're going to share all the details about how to watch World Cup play-off draw.

Where to Watch FIFA World Cup Draw?

Still wondering where to watch FIFA World Cup draw? In this section, we are going to share the platforms that have rights for the World Cup Playoff Draw Live Stream.

Note: On the BBC Sport website and app, viewers in the UK will be able to watch the draw live and for free. FIFA+, a streaming service, will also offer it for viewing. The draw will not be televised in the United Kingdom.

How to Watch World Cup Play-Off Draw: Timings

Here are the timings for World Cup Play-Off Draw live stream.

FIFA World Cup Play-Offs: Pots & Teams

The four top-ranked teams from the previous Nations League season that did not place in the top two of the first qualifying round, like Northern Ireland, will join the 12 group runners-up, including the Republic of Ireland and Wales.

Four pots of four teams each will be created from the 16 teams. Based on the FIFA ranking, Pot A through Pot C will be the 12 group runners-up. For instance, Italy, the highest-ranked European team to not qualify automatically and ranked ninth, will be in Pot A. The four teams that qualified through the Nations League will be in Pot D.

• Confirmed group runners-up (12/12): Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Czech Republic, Kosovo, Denmark, Turkey, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Confirmed Nations League teams (4/4): Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia

Pots:

• Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine
• Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia
• Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo
• Pot 4: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland