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-off draw
- Play-offs made up of 16 European nations vying for four spots at the 2026 World Cup
- Wales face Bosnia before showdown with Italy or Northern Ireland
- Republic of Ireland travel to Czechia before potential final against Denmark or N Macedonia
- Eight semi-finals will take place on 26 March before four finals on 31 March
- Inter-continental play-off draw confirmed as New Caledonia face Jamaica
World Cup play-offs – full draw confirmed
14:02 , Lawrence OstlerePath A
Italy 🇮🇹 v Northern Ireland
Wales 🏴 v Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 (home final)
Path B
Ukraine 🇺🇦 v Sweden 🇸🇪 (home final)
Poland 🇵🇱 v Albania 🇦🇱
Path C
Turkey 🇹🇷 v Romania 🇷🇴
Slovakia 🇸🇰 v Kosovo 🇽🇰 (home final)
Path D
Denmark 🇩🇰 v North Macedonia 🇲🇰
Czechia 🇨🇿 v Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪 (home final)
World Cup inter-continental play-off draw
14:45 , Lawrence OstlereSemi-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
14:32 , Lawrence OstlereIraq 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
13:44 , Lawrence OstlereThe Republic of Ireland now know who they will have to beat to qualify for the World Cup 2026:
Republic of Ireland’s route to World Cup 2026 in full after play-off draw
World Cup play-offs
13:28 , Lawrence OstlereCraig Bellamy’s side thrashed North Macedonia 7-1 and are now relishing next March’s play-off for the chance to play at next year’s World Cup:
World Cup play-offs
13:13 , Lawrence OstlereHere’s our man Gianni with the World Cup and the draw in full:
World Cup play-offs
13:02 , Lawrence OstlereWho are the big winners from that draw? Well, it couldn’t have gone much better for Graham Potter, whose Sweden side take on Ukraine away before a home final against either Poland or Albania. He’ll 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 won’t be easy for the visitors.
Republic of Ireland would probably have taken their draw beforehand. The visit to Czechia won’t 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 O’Neill’s side have still been dealt a poor hand.
World Cup play-offs – full draw confirmed
12:47 , Lawrence OstlereAnd finally, it is decided by a draw which semi-final winner will be at home for their path’s 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 – they couldn’t really have had a worse outcome from this draw.
Path A
Italy 🇮🇹 v Northern Ireland
Wales 🏴 v Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦 (home final)
Path B
Ukraine 🇺🇦 v Sweden 🇸🇪 (home final)
Poland 🇵🇱 v Albania 🇦🇱
Path C
Turkey 🇹🇷 v Romania 🇷🇴
Slovakia 🇸🇰 v Kosovo 🇽🇰 (home final)
Path D
Denmark 🇩🇰 v North Macedonia 🇲🇰
Czechia 🇨🇿 v Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪 (home final)
World Cup play-off draw
12:40 , Lawrence OstlereThe pot 4 teams have been drawn. Northern Ireland will take on Italy!
Path A
Italy 🇮🇹 v Northern Ireland
Wales 🏴 v Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦
Path B
Ukraine 🇺🇦 v Sweden 🇸🇪
Poland 🇵🇱 v Albania 🇦🇱
Path C
Turkey 🇹🇷 v Romania 🇷🇴
Slovakia 🇸🇰 v Kosovo 🇽🇰
Path D
Denmark 🇩🇰 v North Macedonia 🇲🇰
Czechia 🇨🇿 v Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪
World Cup play-off draw
12:38 , Lawrence OstlereThe pot 3 teams have been drawn. Wales will meet Bosnia in Cardiff, Ireland will travel to Czechia!
Path A
Italy 🇮🇹 v ?
Wales 🏴 v Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇦
Path B
Ukraine 🇺🇦 v ?
Poland 🇵🇱 v Albania 🇦🇱
Path C
Turkey 🇹🇷 v ?
Slovakia 🇸🇰 v Kosovo 🇽🇰
Path D
Denmark 🇩🇰 v ?
Czechia 🇨🇿 v Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪
World Cup play-off draw
12:35 , Lawrence OstlereThe pot 2 teams have been drawn as follows. Wales could face Italy in the final!
Path A
Italy 🇮🇹 v ?
Wales 🏴 v ?
Path B
Ukraine 🇺🇦 v ?
Poland 🇵🇱 v ?
Path C
Turkey 🇹🇷 v ?
Slovakia 🇸🇰 v ?
Path D
Denmark 🇩🇰 v ?
Czechia 🇨🇿 v ?
World Cup play-off draw
12:33 , Lawrence OstlereThe pot 1 teams have been drawn as follows...
Path A
Italy 🇮🇹 v ?
? v ?
Path B
Ukraine 🇺🇦 v ?
? v ?
Path C
Turkey 🇹🇷 v ?
? v ?
Path D
Denmark 🇩🇰 v ?
? v ?
World Cup play-off draw
12:30 , Lawrence OstlereHere we go then. The pot 1 teams will be drawn first into different paths...
How does the draw work?
12:29 , Lawrence OstlereWhile we wait for the draw ceremony to begin, a reminder of how it all works.
Each of the four paths in the play-offs will feature one team from Pot 1, one from Pot 2, one from Pot 3 and one from Pot 4.
The semi-finals will see the Pot 1 team face the Pot 4 team, and the Pot 2 team face the Pot 3 team, with those Pot 1 and 2 teams at home.
The two semi-final winners from each path will then meet in the final (with home advantage to be decided in the initial draw) and the winner of that clash qualifies for the World Cup.
World Cup play-off draw
12:26 , Lawrence OstlereGianni Infantino is chattering away on the mic, and he says: “Remember, football unites the world.” I’d argue it literally pits countries against one another but anyway, here we go.
Marco Materazzi and Martin Dahlin are on stage now to do some ball plucking.
World Cup play-off draw
12:24 , Lawrence OstlereSo two teams from the inter-continental play-offs will join the 42 nations already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. That leaves four remaining spots...
Next up, the European draw: 16 teams, eight semi-finals and four finals to be mapped out.
Jamaica to face New Caledonia in play-offs
12:19 , Lawrence OstlereJamaica manager Steve McClaren stepped down after their failure to qualify automatically, so they will have a new coach leading them into the play-offs, as they take on New Caledonia, the group of Pacific islands ranked 149th in the world.
World Cup inter-continental play-off draw
12:13 , Lawrence OstlereAnd the second semi-final:
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
12:13 , Lawrence OstlereHere comes the first semi-final:
New Caledonia v Jamaica
The winner will play DR Congo in the final for a place at the World Cup.
Inter-continental play-offs up first
12:08 , Lawrence OstlereFirst up, before the European draw, is the inter-continental draw.
A reminder: the inter-continental play-offs will see two more teams added to the World Cup. The draw features six nations, with the top two teams based on Fifa rankings receiving a bye through to the two finals.
They are DR Congo and Iraq.
The other four nations are Bolivia, New Caledonia, Jamaica, Suriname.
World Cup play-off draw
12:05 , Lawrence OstlereThis draw has two big names helping out with the balls. Marco Materazzi, of Zidane-heatbutt and Mourinho-tears fame, and Martin Dahlin, Swedish striker and Blackburn Rovers cult hero.
World Cup play-off draw
12:01 , Lawrence OstlereA reminder of the 16 teams in the four seeded pots:
Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine
Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia
Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo
Pot 4: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland
World Cup play-off draw
11:54 , Lawrence OstlereThe draw is nearly upon us!
Who would Wales like to face? Kosovo, perhaps? Although they were fantastic in qualifying. Northern Ireland would most likely prefer Ukraine out of the pot 1 sides, while Repbulic of Ireland might prefer the short trip across the Irish sea trip to Cardiff, given the choice – although Slovakia are probably the easiest opponent Ireland could face.
Perhaps just as important as the semi-final opponent is the possible final match-up, and avoiding Italy is the priority there.
When are the play-offs?
11:44 , Lawrence OstlereThe eight semi-finals will take place on 26 March, before the four finals on 31 March.
How the best week of the football year surpassed all expectations
11:35 , Lawrence OstlereAnd here’s another bit of pre-draw reading from Miguel Delaney, on how the “best week of the football year” delivered once more:
How the best week of the football year surpassed all expectations
Why Parrott’s magic moment meant more than the play-offs to Ireland
11:27 , Lawrence OstlereHere’s chief football writer Miguel Delaney on Troy Parrott’s incredible hat-trick in Hungary:
As the Irish fans sang, and Troy Parrott’s teammates were already watching clips of his goal, the hero just let it out.
“This is the first time I’ve cried in years as well… I really can’t believe it.”
There are few who can. This is partly why Parrott was far from the only Irish person crying after his deft finish.
The 23-year-old’s comeback hat-trick that culminated in an incredible 96th-minute winner was not just a sensation of an event; of the type that has emotionally captured all of football in the way only the World Cup can.
It was a feat that probably shouldn’t have been possible, that involved a lot of defiance from everyone involved - not least the hero.
Read more:
Why Troy Parrott’s magic moment meant more than the World Cup play-offs to Ireland
Tiny Curacao through to World Cup
11:19 , Lawrence OstlereThe Caribbean island nation of Curacao made history this week, becoming the smallest country by population to qualify for a World Cup. They secured their spot with a goalless draw against Jamaica on the final day of Concacaf qualifying.
Curacao remained undefeated throughout their campaign, topping Group B with 12 points, and now join Panama and Haiti in booking their World Cup ticket.
Their crucial match against Jamaica was navigated without head coach Dick Advocaat, the 78-year-old former Rangers and Sunderland boss, who was absent due to personal reasons.
The nation carries a land mass of 171 square miles and boasts a population of less than 157,000.
Wilson: Wales ready for anyone in play-offs
11:11 , Lawrence Ostlere“We showed for 20 minutes against Belgium (in October) – a top-10 nation – what we could be like.
“In the semi-final we’ll have to do it for 90 minutes, but whoever we play in that game we will be confident.”
Wilson: Wales ready for anyone in play-offs
11:05 , Lawrence OstlereHarry Wilson says Wales are confident of beating anyone at home in the World Cup play-offs.
Wales secured home advantage for their play-off semi-final with an historic 7-1 demolition of North Macedonia in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Today’s draw in Zurich will see Wales in pot two and hosting either the Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Kosovo from the group below at Cardiff City Stadium on March 26.
The final – to be played five days later, with the hosts to be decided by a draw – will determine who progresses to next summer’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
“Whenever we play at home, we’re confident against anyone,” said Wilson, who scored Wales’ first hat-trick for over four years after being named captain for the night with Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies injured and Ethan Ampadu suspended.
Scotland through to the World Cup
10:52 , Lawrence OstlereEngland and Scotland have already booked their spots in North America next summer. Steve Clarke’s band of brothers scored three of the greatest goals in Scotland’s history to reach a first men’s World Cup in 28 years:
How Scotland combined the sublime and ridiculous to make World Cup history
How to watch the draw
10:45 , Lawrence OstlereThe play-off draw will not be broadcast live on UK TV, but fans can tune in via the Fifa+ website to live stream the draw as it happens. It is set to get underway at 12pm GMT.
Also today... the inter-continental play-off draw
10:38 , Lawrence OstlereThe inter-continental play-offs will see two more teams added to the World Cup. The draw also takes place today and features six nations, with the top two teams based on Fifa rankings receiving a bye through to the two finals.
They are DR Congo and Iraq.
The other four nations are Bolivia, New Caledonia, Jamaica, Suriname.
How does the draw work?
10:29 , Lawrence OstlereEach of the four paths in the play-offs will feature one team from Pot 1, one from Pot 2, one from Pot 3 and one from Pot 4.
The semi-finals will see the Pot 1 team face the Pot 4 team, and the Pot 2 team face the Pot 3 team, with those Pot 1 and 2 teams at home.
The two semi-final winners from each path will then meet in the final (with home advantage to be decided in the initial draw) and the winner of that clash qualifies for the World Cup.
Who is in each pot?
10:16 , Lawrence OstlerePot 4: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland are among the four sides who made a rather convoluted journey to get to this point, having failed to finish in the top two in their group in qualifying. They will be drawn away from home against a pot 1 side, so face the trickiest route to the World Cup. Graham Potter’s Sweden will be the one that the big guns really want to avoid, given their attacking quality in Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Dejan Kulusevski.
Who is in each pot?
10:05 , Lawrence OstlerePot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo.
Ireland will be drawn away from home against one of the pot 2 sides, so they could face Wales in Cardiff in the semi-finals.
Who is in each pot?
09:53 , Lawrence OstlerePot 2: Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia.
Wales are in pot 2 and crucially that gives them a home tie for the first semi-final, against one of the sides in pot 3.
Who is in each pot?
09:44 , Lawrence OstlerePot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.
The sides who qualified for the play-offs via the Nations League, including Northern Ireland, will be draw away from home against one of these pot 1 teams. No one will want to meet four-time World Cup winners Italy, despite their underwhelming qualifying campaign in which they were beaten to top spot by the Erling Haaland-powered Norway. Denmark contrived to throw away their automatic spot but will fancy their chances of progressing through the play-offs, while Turkey and Ukraine will not be easy opponents either.
Who is in the play-offs?
09:36 , Lawrence OstlereThe 12 group runners-up, including the Republic of Ireland and Wales, will be joined by the four best-ranked teams from the previous Nations League campaign who failed to finish in the top-two of first qualifying round, such as Northern Ireland.
The 16 teams will be split into four pots of four teams. Pot A to Pot C will be the 12 group runners-up and determined on Fifa ranking. Italy, who are ranked ninth and the highest-ranked European side to fail to automatically qualify, will be in Pot A, for example. Pot D will be the four teams who qualified via the Nations League.
Group runners-up: Italy, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Czech Republic, Kosovo, Denmark, Turkey, Wales, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Nations League teams: Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, North Macedonia.
World Cup play-off draw
09:28 , Lawrence OstlereThe World Cup 2026 play-off draw is here with the hopes and dreams of 16 nations still alive to qualify for the USA, Canada and Mexico next summer.
After the chaos at Hampden Park as Scotland directly qualified for the star-studded tournament in 2026, now Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland eagerly await their opponents, with two rounds of matches to negotiate.
Troy Parrott’s dramatic hat-trick sparked wild scenes of celebrations, while Wales thrashed North Macedonia 7-1 in a bright moment under Craig Bellamy.
Northern Ireland picked up a narrow win over Luxembourg, but qualified for the play-offs through the Nations League.
World Cup play-off draw live
09:19 , Lawrence OstlereHello and welcome to a huge day in the race to reach the 2026 World Cup, as 16 European nations discover their route to the tournament.
