World Cup 2026 play-off draw live: Wales, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland learn opponents
Wales and Northern Ireland must get past Italy in path A of the World Cup play-offs while Republic of Ireland face a tricky trip to Czechia
Wales, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland all now know their path to next summer's World Cup 2026 after the play-off draw.
Next March's ties are now set with Wales facing Bosnia and Herzegovina before a potential mouthwatering clash with four-time winners Italy or Northern Ireland.
The Republic of Ireland, fresh from their thrilling qualifying wins over Portugal and Hungary, will take on Czechia first, before a potential final with Denmark or North Macedonia.
Here is how the play-off draw unfolded and the latest reaction with hopes and dreams of featuring in the USA, Canada and Mexico still alive for 16 nations.
World Cup play-offs โ full draw confirmed
Path A
Italy ๐ฎ๐น v Northern Ireland
Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ v Bosnia and Herzegovina ๐ง๐ฆ (home final)
Path B
Ukraine ๐บ๐ฆ v Sweden ๐ธ๐ช (home final)
Poland ๐ต๐ฑ v Albania ๐ฆ๐ฑ
Path C
Turkey ๐น๐ท v Romania ๐ท๐ด
Slovakia ๐ธ๐ฐ v Kosovo ๐ฝ๐ฐ (home final)
Path D
Denmark ๐ฉ๐ฐ v North Macedonia ๐ฒ๐ฐ
Czechia ๐จ๐ฟ v Republic of Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช (home final)
World Cup inter-continental play-off draw
Semi-final 1: New Caledonia v Jamaica
The winner will play DR Congo in the final for a place at the World Cup.
Semi-final 2: Bolivia v Suriname
The winner will play Iraq in the final for a place at the World Cup.
World Cup inter-continental play-off draw
Iraq will play either Bolivia or Suriname to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after the inter-confederation play-off tournament draw was held on Thursday to decide the pathways that determine two slots for the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo await either New Caledonia or Jamaica in the other pathway. The six teams from the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL and the OFC confederations will play in the inter-confederation playoff tournament in Guadalajara and Monterrey in March.
Seeded teams Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo directly advanced to the two playoff finals. Iraq are trying to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since their debut appearance in 1986. Graham Arnold's side reached the playoffs in dramatic fashion by beating the United Arab Emirates with a penalty in the 17th minute of stoppage time for a 3-2 aggregate win.
Congo kept alive hopes of a World Cup place as they edged continental powerhouse Nigeria 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw following extra time to win the African qualifying playoffs. Jamaica failed to get the win needed over Curacao to qualify directly, leading Steve McClaren to resign as their head coach despite reaching the playoffs.
Bolivia finished seventh in the South American qualifiers, sealing the playoff spot with a shock 1-0 win over Brazil in the final round of games.
World Cup play-offs
The Republic of Ireland now know who they will have to beat to qualify for the World Cup 2026:
Republic of Irelandโs route to World Cup 2026 in full after play-off draw
World Cup play-offs
Craig Bellamyโs side thrashed North Macedonia 7-1 and are now relishing next Marchโs play-off for the chance to play at next yearโs World Cup:
Walesโ route to World Cup 2026 in full after play-off draw
World Cup play-offs
Hereโs our man Gianni with the World Cup and the draw in full:
World Cup play-offs
Who are the big winners from that draw? Well, it couldnโt have gone much better for Graham Potter, whose Sweden side take on Ukraine away before a home final against either Poland or Albania. Heโll certainly take that from pot 4.
Wales have had a decent result. OK, they have to beat two good sides in Bosnia and then the four-time world champions Italy, clearly the most dangerous side in the draw. But at least both games are at home. Cardiff will be jumping and that wonโt be easy for the visitors.
Republic of Ireland would probably have taken their draw beforehand. The visit to Czechia wonโt be easy, and a potential final against Denmark will be a tough test too. But getting a home final is so important and they will at least have the support of a Dublin crowd if they can get past the Czechs.
But as mentioned below, it looks like a brutal draw for Northern Ireland. Going away to Italy is as difficult as it gets in the semi-finals, and then another away match awaits in the final should they get there. That, of course, was always a possibility from pot 4, but Michael OโNeillโs side have still been dealt a poor hand.
World Cup play-offs โ full draw confirmed
And finally, it is decided by a draw which semi-final winner will be at home for their pathโs final. It seems slightly absurd that the finals are not at a neutral venue, and a huge advantage to be at home, but here we are.
Wales and Republic of Ireland will play at home if they reach their final. Northern Ireland will be away โ they couldnโt really have had a worse outcome from this draw.
Path A
Italy ๐ฎ๐น v Northern Ireland
Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ v Bosnia and Herzegovina ๐ง๐ฆ (home final)
Path B
Ukraine ๐บ๐ฆ v Sweden ๐ธ๐ช (home final)
Poland ๐ต๐ฑ v Albania ๐ฆ๐ฑ
Path C
Turkey ๐น๐ท v Romania ๐ท๐ด
Slovakia ๐ธ๐ฐ v Kosovo ๐ฝ๐ฐ (home final)
Path D
Denmark ๐ฉ๐ฐ v North Macedonia ๐ฒ๐ฐ
Czechia ๐จ๐ฟ v Republic of Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช (home final)
World Cup play-off draw
The pot 4 teams have been drawn. Northern Ireland will take on Italy!
Path A
Italy ๐ฎ๐น v Northern Ireland
Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ v Bosnia and Herzegovina ๐ง๐ฆ
Path B
Ukraine ๐บ๐ฆ v Sweden ๐ธ๐ช
Poland ๐ต๐ฑ v Albania ๐ฆ๐ฑ
Path C
Turkey ๐น๐ท v Romania ๐ท๐ด
Slovakia ๐ธ๐ฐ v Kosovo ๐ฝ๐ฐ
Path D
Denmark ๐ฉ๐ฐ v North Macedonia ๐ฒ๐ฐ
Czechia ๐จ๐ฟ v Republic of Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
World Cup play-off draw
The pot 3 teams have been drawn. Wales will meet Bosnia in Cardiff, Ireland will travel to Czechia!
Path A
Italy ๐ฎ๐น v ?
Wales ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ท๓ ฌ๓ ณ๓ ฟ v Bosnia and Herzegovina ๐ง๐ฆ
Path B
Ukraine ๐บ๐ฆ v ?
Poland ๐ต๐ฑ v Albania ๐ฆ๐ฑ
Path C
Turkey ๐น๐ท v ?
Slovakia ๐ธ๐ฐ v Kosovo ๐ฝ๐ฐ
Path D
Denmark ๐ฉ๐ฐ v ?
Czechia ๐จ๐ฟ v Republic of Ireland ๐ฎ๐ช
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