Guadalajara And Monterrey Will Host The 2026 World Cup Qualification Playoff
JAKARTA - The Guadalajara Stadium and the Monterrey Stadium will welcome six national teams from five confederations.
Guadalajara Stadium and Monterrey Stadium will hold an intercontinental playoff for the 2026 World Cup Qualification in March 2026. Two tickets for the 2026 World Cup finals are up for grabs on Mexican soil
The draw for the six-team tournament will take place at the FIFA headquarters, Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, November 20, 2025, WIB night.
FIFA has chosen Guadalajara and Monterrey as the host cities of the Interconfederated playoffs scheduled to take place in the two Mexican cities between March 23 and 31, 2026.
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The tournament will determine the two of the last countries to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which will start less than three months later in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The Guadalajara Stadium and the Monterrey Stadium will welcome six national teams from five confederations in competition for the last place available in the prestigious world event.
Iraq will represent the AFC, the Democratic Republic of Congo will represent CAF, Jamaica, and Suriname will represent Concacaf, Bolivia will represent Conmebol, and New Caledonia will represent Oceania.
The two stadiums will also host the match during the 2026 World Cup, with the Guadalajara Stadium hosting four group stage matches and the Monterrey Stadium ready to host three group matches, as well as a round of 32 matches.
"These iconic stadiums are the perfect stage for what promises to be a thrilling, vibrant, drama, and joy event."
"This Layoff offers fans the opportunity to be part of historic matches in cities and world-class venues ahead of the main games that will start less than three months later in Canada, Mexico, and the United States," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The Guadalajara Stadium is one of Mexico's most modern football arenas. Opened in 2010, this stadium is home to the League club MX, C. D. Guadalajara, and has hosted various international matches in its history.
The advanced facilities of stadiums and the tense atmosphere created in the stands make it the ideal place for high-level playoffs.
Meanwhile, Staion Monterrey, dubbed El Gigante de Acero (Battle Raksa), has been home to Mexico's top club Rayados since its inauguration in 2015.
As an architectural miracle, the stadium has proven its ability to host major international football events and will be the perfect background for the upcoming dramatic matches.
The draw for the 2026 World Cup Qualification playoffs will take place at FIFA headquarters, Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday, November 20, 2025, with the match schedule to be confirmed later.
Along with other important events, including the 2026 World Cup finals draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington DC, on Friday, December 5, 2025, and the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, on Thursday, April 30, 2026, the playoffs in Mexico will mark an important milestone in preparation for the edition of next year's FIFA flagship tournament, which will begin at Mexico City Stadium on Thursday, June 11, 2026.