World Cup Play-Offs Unveiled: Pathways for Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland to Secure Tournament Spots
Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are poised to enter the World Cup play-offs. Their aspirations to qualify for the 2026 tournament remain intact, thanks to a new qualifying system. This system allows teams that finished outside the top two of their UEFA qualifying groups to benefit from their performances in the 2024/25 Nations League. Compared to previous cycles, there will be two additional play-off spots available this time.
Upcoming Draw for World Cup Play-Offs
The draw for the play-offs will occur on Thursday at 12 PM UK time, held at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Fans can follow live coverage on Sky Sports’ digital platforms.
Play-Off Format Overview
The World Cup play-offs, scheduled for March 2026, will feature four distinct paths. Each path corresponds to one available spot in the tournament. Teams will be drawn from various seeding pots:
- Pot 1: Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, Denmark
- Pot 2: Wales, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic
- Pot 3: Kosovo, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania
- Pot 4: Romania, Northern Ireland, Sweden, North Macedonia
Each semi-final will be a one-legged match, hosted by the team from the higher-ranking pot. The winners of these semi-finals will then compete for a spot in the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Qualification Process for the Play-Offs
For the 2026 tournament, 16 European teams will compete, marking a 50% increase in the tournament’s size. Among these, 12 places are allocated to the group winners, while the remaining four will be decided through the play-offs. The process involves:
- 12 group runners-up from UEFA qualifying rounds
- Four best performers from the 2024/25 Nations League
Final Standings in Groups
Here is a snapshot of the final standings from the qualifying groups:
| Group | Qualified | Play-Off Teams |
|---|---|---|
| A | Germany | Slovakia, Northern Ireland |
| B | Switzerland | Kosovo, Sweden |
| C | Scotland | Denmark |
| D | France | Ukraine |
| E | Spain | Turkey |
| F | Portugal | Republic of Ireland |
| G | Netherlands | Poland |
| H | Austria | Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania |
| I | Norway | Italy |
| J | Belgium | Wales, North Macedonia |
| K | England | Albania |
| L | Croatia | Czech Republic |
Possibility of All Home Nations Qualifying
There remains a possibility that all home nations, including the Republic of Ireland, could be present in the upcoming World Cup. England and Scotland have already secured qualification, with Scotland achieving this for the first time since 1998. Wales is assured a home draw in the play-off semi-final after an impressive 7-1 victory over North Macedonia, while Northern Ireland also benefited from its Nations League performance.
Conclusion
The upcoming World Cup play-offs promise to be an exciting opportunity for teams from the UK and Ireland to secure their spots in the tournament. As they prepare for the draw, fans eagerly anticipate the potential paths that could lead their teams to join the global stage in 2026.
