The draw for the European FIFA World Cup Qualifying Groups has taken place in Switzerland today.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Republic of Ireland will will play against the winner of the Nations League Quarter Final between Portugal and Denmark, Hungary and Armenia.
Northern Ireland have been drawn against the winner of Germany and Italy in the Nations League Quarter Final, Slovakia and Luxembourg.
The group winners qualify by right to play in the USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026.
The twelve runners up will go into a play off scenario, alongside the four Nations League teams that are highest placed in that without finishing in the top two in this qualifying round, potentially making Ireland’s play off in March more important. Four teams will emerge to join the twelve winners.
Raising the number of European teams from 12 to 16 in an expanded Finals format should have made it easier but Ireland are now ranked 28th in Europe so there is a hill to be climbed.
The six games will be scheduled to take place between September and November 2025 and any play off games will then take place in March 2026.
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The groups are challenging but not impossible and there will be a live possibility of at least progressing to the play off stage for both of the Irish teams.
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The World Cup Finals in 2026 will run from June 11th to July 19th with the final in the home of the New York Jets and Giants (pictured above).
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