The road to the 2026 World Cup became clearer for the home nations today as the official play-off draw was conducted in Zurich, Switzerland.
Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland all learned their potential paths to the tournament in North America, setting the stage for a dramatic international break next March.
Home Nations Learn Their Play-Off Fate
The draw has placed the three British sides in distinct paths with varying challenges. Due to their superior ranking, Wales has secured a significant advantage, being guaranteed to play their semi-final match on home soil. In contrast, both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland were placed in lower pots, meaning they must travel for their initial knockout fixtures.
Rob Page's Welsh side finds itself in Path A, where they will host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a one-legged semi-final on March 26. A victory in that crucial tie would see Wales rewarded with another home match, this time for the Path A final.
The Daunting Paths to Qualification
The potential final opponent for Wales adds a layer of intense drama. The other Path A semi-final sends Northern Ireland on a daunting trip to face European giants Italy, also on March 26. Should Michael O'Neill's side pull off a monumental upset against the Azzurri, they would then face an away final against either Wales or Bosnia.
For the Republic of Ireland, the journey runs through Path D. Stephen Kenny's team must first travel to face Czechia in their semi-final. However, a win there comes with a major incentive: the Republic of Ireland would be guaranteed home advantage for the Path D final. Their opponent in that potential final would be the winner of the other semi-final in the path, which sees Denmark take on North Macedonia.
Other European and Intercontinental Play-Offs
Beyond the British interest, the draw also settled the other European play-off paths. In Path B, Ukraine will face Sweden, while Poland hosts Albania, with the final to be hosted by either Ukraine or Sweden. Path C features Turkiye at home to Romania and Slovakia hosting Kosovo, with the final host being either Slovakia or Kosovo.
The event in Zurich also decided the two intercontinental play-off paths scheduled for March. These include a semi-final between New Caledonia and Jamaica, with the winner facing DR Congo, and another semi-final pitting Bolivia against Suriname, with Iraq awaiting the victor.
With the draw complete, the focus for Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland now turns to preparation for what promises to be a nail-biting and high-stakes international window next spring.
