The global race to the 2026 FIFA World Cup took major steps forward this morning as UEFA released its playoff draw and FIFA confirmed the inter-confederation playoff bracket. On today’s Morning Espresso, we break down Italy’s difficult road, Northern Ireland’s long-shot bid, Sweden’s clash with Ukraine, and every potential final across Europe. We also look at the high-stakes matchups in the inter-confed playoffs, where DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, Suriname, Bolivia, and New Caledonia now know their paths to the last two spots in the tournament. Plus: updates across the USMNT and USWNT camps, NWSL awards week, MLS headlines, and the latest from the UEFA Women’s Champions League.