Mexico, the Six-Team World Cup Playoff Crater

ZURICH, THURSDAY — FIFA has chosen Mexico as the host of the intercontinental playoffs for the two remaining 2026 World Cup spots. The cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey will be honored by the six teams participating in the playoffs as historic places in their football history.

Several reasons prompted FIFA to decide on Mexico as the "Cinderella Crater" for potential World Cup qualifiers.

The six teams referred to come from five confederations. They include Iraq (Asia), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Africa), Jamaica and Suriname (Central and North America), Bolivia (Latin America), and New Caledonia (Oceania).

The intercontinental playoffs are scheduled to take place from March 23 to 31, 2026, three months before the 2026 World Cup, which will take place from June 11 to July 19. The matches will take place at Akron Stadium in Guadalajara and BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.

Akron Stadium is one of the most modern football arenas in Mexico. Opened in 2010, this stadium serves as the home ground for the Liga MX club, CD Guadalajara, and has hosted various international matches throughout its history.

Akron Stadium is renowned for its state-of-the-art facilities and the thrilling atmosphere it creates in the stands. The combination makes it an ideal venue for a thrilling playoff game.

The BBVA Stadium is nicknamed El Gigante de Acero or "The Steel Giant." This stadium has been the home of the top Mexican club, Rayados, since its inauguration in 2015. Known for its architectural marvel, the stadium has proven its capacity to host major international football events and will serve as a fitting backdrop for dramatic matches in the future.

Both stadiums have also been designated as hosts for the main matches of the 2026 World Cup. Akron Stadium is scheduled to host four group stage matches, while BBVA Stadium will host three group matches, as well as a match in the round of 32.

"These iconic stadiums are the perfect stage for what promises to be an exciting event, full of passion, drama, and joy," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a press release on Thursday (20/11/2025) early morning WIB.

Playoff matches can sometimes be even more tense, even surpassing the group stage. This is because all six teams are risking everything to make history by qualifying for the World Cup. This is the culmination of their struggles through the qualifying rounds over the previous months.

The six teams participating in the playoffs have no choice but to win. Failure is tantamount to shedding tears. Therefore, it's no surprise that this playoff round has been compared to the Candradimuka Crater for potential World Cup qualifying survivors.

"This Playoff tournament offers fans the opportunity to be part of historic matches in world-class cities and venues ahead of the main event which begins less than three months later in Canada, Mexico and the United States," said Infantino.

Before the playoffs begin, the six teams, except Iraq and Congo, must first go through a draw on Thursday (November 20) at 7:00 p.m. WIB. Iraq and Congo are seeded and therefore qualify directly for the playoff final.

The playoff system uses a tournament format divided into two brackets. One bracket contains three teams, with one team advancing directly to the final. The other two teams will meet in the semifinals.

Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia, and New Caledonia were drawn to determine their semifinal opponents. The semifinal winners will face either Congo in Bracket 1 or Iraq in Bracket 2.

Jamaica could be said to be the busiest playoff participant. They recently lost coach Steve McClaren, who resigned after failing to guide his team to direct qualification.

Jamaica lost to Curacao, which qualified directly with 12 points. McClaren's squad could only gather 11 points from three wins, two draws, and one loss.

Jamaica Football Federation President Michael Ricketts expressed disappointment over his team's failure to secure a qualifying ticket that was within reach. "We will reorganize, we will make a second effort, we will arrange everything, and of course, hold an emergency meeting with the technical staff. We will appoint an interim coach," he said. (REUTERS)