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2026 FIFA World Cup
29MAR

Four UEFA playoff finals set for Monday

1 min read
14:01UTC

Italy, Denmark, Sweden and either Kosovo or Turkey will learn their World Cup fate on 31 March, with one result shaping the USMNT's group.

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SportAssessed
Key takeaway

Monday's Kosovo-Turkey final determines the USMNT's Group D opponent at the World Cup.

The European qualifying playoffs produced a packed results day on 27 March. Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 and face Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday.⁠1 Denmark dispatched North Macedonia 4-0 and meet Czechia. Kosovo beat Slovakia 4-3 in a wild seven-goal semi-final; Turkey edged Romania 1-0.⁠2

The Kosovo-Turkey final on 31 March carries a secondary consequence: the winner joins the USMNT in Group D.⁠3 Kosovo (FIFA rank 77) would be making a World Cup debut. Turkey (FIFA rank 23) last appeared in 2002 and reached the semi-finals that year. US Soccer has already published a preview of both scenarios.⁠4 Either way, the USMNT's World Cup group just got measurably harder than it looked a week ago, coming on top of the defensive vulnerabilities exposed in the Belgium defeat.

Deep Analysis

In plain English

Four European nations play one-off finals on Monday to earn a World Cup place. Italy (traditionally a football powerhouse), Denmark, and the winner of Kosovo vs Turkey will all be confirmed for the tournament. The match most relevant to the USA is Kosovo vs Turkey, because the winner joins the US in their group. Kosovo have never been to a World Cup. Turkey last went in 2002 and reached the semi-finals. Either outcome changes the USA's preparation priorities.

What could happen next?
  • Consequence

    If Kosovo qualify, USMNT scouting resources will focus on an opponent with no World Cup data, requiring full build-up from club-level analysis.

  • Meaning

    Italy's presence at the World Cup would add one of the sport's iconic brands to the tournament after two consecutive qualification failures.

Sources:Yahoo Sports·US Soccer
Mentions:Slovakia →Romania →Belgium →FIFA →Denmark →Turkey →Poland →Czechia →Kosovo →UEFA →Bosnia and Herzegovina →North Macedonia →World Cup →Northern Ireland →US Soccer →
First Reported In

Update #3 · USA beaten 5-2 at World Cup host venue

Yahoo Sports· 29 Mar 2026
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