Two of the final remaining tickets to the World Cup will be up for grabs when a high‑stakes playoff tournament kicks off in Mexico on Thursday, bringing together six teams from across the globe.
New Caledonia, Suriname, Jamaica, Bolivia, Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo form the diverse cast of hopefuls each chasing one of the two berths on offer for this year's expanded 48‑team finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The mini‑tournament in Guadalajara and Monterrey also serves as a test run for two cities set to host World Cup matches in June, giving Mexico a chance to showcase its readiness after recent security concerns.
The straight‑knockout playoffs begin Thursday, with the tiny French Pacific territory of New Caledonia facing the "Reggae Boyz" of Jamaica in Guadalajara.
The winner will advance to meet the Democratic Republic of Congo at the same venue on March 31, with a World Cup ticket on the line.
Whoever emerges will join Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal and Uzbekistan.
In Monterrey, Bolivia — seeking their first World Cup appearance since the 1994 finals in the United States — take on Suriname, the former Dutch colony on the northeastern coast The victor will move on to a winner‑take‑all clash with Iraq next week for the second berth on offer.
The team that survives the Monterrey pathway will land in a daunting Group I, where France, Norway and Senegal await.
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