The European playoff draw for the 2026 World Cup has put Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland on very different paths to qualification. With March’s fixtures quickly approaching, pressure is building for all involved.
Wales will play Bosnia & Herzegovina at home, a tie that suits their surging form following an emphatic 7–1 victory. The squad believes this could be their clearest path back to the World Cup in years.
Northern Ireland must travel to Italy for their semi-final, a challenge that demands discipline and determination. Italy’s inconsistency does offer hope, but the difficulty of the assignment remains extremely high.
The Republic of Ireland travel to Prague, where they’ll face Czech Republic. With Troy Parrott delivering a stellar five-goal week, Ireland enter the playoffs buoyed by newfound attacking confidence.
Further afield in Europe, Ukraine meet Sweden in another marquee playoff matchup, while Poland face Albania in a tense battle. The inter-confederation draw also added intrigue, pairing Jamaica and Bolivia with favourable semifinal opponents.