Turkey Draws Romania In The C Path Semi-Final In Zurich Draw; The Final Match Will Be Played Away
ZURICH, Switzerland – The critical juncture in the Turkish National Football Team’s campaign to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been officially determined. In the draw held at FIFA Headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, the Turkish National Team learned its play-off opponent would be Romania. Turkey, which finished second in Group E, must now overcome the final two hurdles to secure its World Cup ticket.
📝 THE ROAD TO THE WORLD CUP (PATH C)
Turkey entered the qualification draw in Pot 1, giving them the advantage of hosting the first match. The Turkish National Team Play-Off Opponent is Romania.
- Semi-Final: Turkey will face its first and most critical test against Romania. The match will be played in Turkey under a single-match elimination format.
- Potential Final: If the Crescent-Stars advance to the final stage, they will face the winner of the Slovakia vs. Kosovo pairing. This crucial final match will be played away (in either Slovakia or Kosovo).
📅 KEY DATES AND TOURNAMENT FORMAT
The play-off stage will be played under a single-match elimination format. The four teams that win both the semi-final and final matches will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
- Semi-Final Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026
- Final Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026
🌐 EUROPEAN AND INTERCONTINENTAL PAIRINGS
The full table of the European Qualifiers Play-Off pairings determined by FIFA is as follows:
| Path | Semi-Final 1 | Semi-Final 2 |
| Path A | Italy – Northern Ireland | Wales – Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Path B | Ukraine – Sweden | Poland – Albania |
| Path C | TURKEY – ROMANIA | Slovakia – Kosovo |
| Path D | Denmark – North Macedonia | Czechia – Republic of Ireland |
In addition, the draw also determined the 2026 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Play-Off pairings. While these pairings do not involve European teams, they illustrate the global format of the tournament:
- Path: Winner of New Caledonia – Jamaica / DR Congo
- Path: Winner of Bolivia – Suriname / Iraq
The fact that the Turkish National Team Play-Off Opponent (Romania) will be played at home is seen as one of the biggest advantages on the road to the World Cup.
