Wales and Northern Ireland have been drawn in the same playoff route for the 2026 World Cup, while the Republic of Ireland will travel to Prague to face the Czech Republic. The draws, confirmed on Friday, set the stage for the European qualifying play-offs scheduled for March 2026.
In the semi-finals, Italy will host Northern Ireland, Wales will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark will play North Macedonia, and the Czech Republic will host the Republic of Ireland. The winners of these ties will then meet in finals, with the victors securing a spot at the World Cup. The winners of the Wales-Bosnia and Italy-Northern Ireland semi-finals will face off, with the final to be played at the home of the Wales-Bosnia winner.
Ukraine and Sweden face each other in another semi-final, with the winner set to host the final against the winner of Poland versus Albania. Potential logistical issues could arise if Ukraine and Poland both advance, as Ukraine has played most home matches in Poland since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
The World Cup group stage draw will take place on 5 December in Washington DC, where the 42 already-qualified teams and the six playoff winners will be assigned their groups. The European semi-finals are set for 26 March 2026, with the finals on 31 March. Intercontinental playoff semi-finals in Mexico are scheduled for 23 March, with finals on 31 March.
