A positive Nations League campaign had already secured a World Cup play-off place for Northern Ireland, but that will be in Pot 4 where they are guaranteed an away game against one of the Pot 1 sides
After one of the most thrilling international windows ever, FIFA will hold their World Cup play-off draw on Thursday in Zurich
While Troy Parrott’s heroics in Budapest on Sunday may never be topped in terms of emotion and excitement for Republic of Ireland fans, Scotland produced a magical night of their own to seal their place in the tournament proper for the first time in 27 years.
They join England in qualifying for the expanded World Cup in North America next year with a thrilling victory over Denmark and in the process push the Danes into pot one of the play-off draw.
Northern Ireland’s qualifying campaign ended with little fanfare after falling short of a top two finish. A home win over Luxembourg sends Michael O’Neill’s men forward in good spirits, despite finishing below Germany and Slovakia in the group.
A positive Nations League campaign had already secured a World Cup play-off place, but that will be in Pot 4 where they are guaranteed an away game against one of the Pot 1 sides – Italy, Turkey, Denmark or Ukraine.
The draw will confirm the eight semi-final fixtures and four potential final match-ups that will determine Europe’s final qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Here is everything you need to know on the World Cup and the play-off draw..
When is the World Cup play-off draw?
The draw will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, November 20
Where is the World Cup play-off draw?
The draw will be held at FIFA’s Home of Football in Zurich
Will the draw be on TV or streamed?
The draw will be streamed on the BBC iPlayer and on FIFA+. You can also watch the FIFA World Cup play-off draw on Thursday on RTE Player and the RTÉ News Channel.
When will the play-offs be held?
The World Cup play-off semi-finals will be on Thursday, March 26, 2026
The finals will be held five days later on Tuesday, March 31 2026
What are the pots and who can face who?
The teams are ranked 1 to 16 and placed into four pots:
- Pot 1: Runners-up ranked 1–4
– Italy, Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine
- Pot 2: Runners-up ranked 5–8
– Poland, Wales, Czech Republic and Slovakia
- Pot 3: Runners-up ranked 9–12
– Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo
- Pot 4: Nations League teams ranked 13–16
– Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland
EXPLAINER : Teams from Pot 1 will be drawn at home against a team from Pot 4. Teams from Pot 2 will be drawn at home against a team from Pot 3.
The four winners of the Pot 1 v Pot 4 games will then move into a final against the four winners from the Pot 2 v Pot 3 matches. A further draw will determine which semi-final winner hosts each final.
Who has already qualified for the World Cup next year?
As well as England and Scotland, other notable qualifiers include defending champions Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Erling Haaland’s Norway. Uzbekistan, Jordan, Cape Verde and Curacao will all make their debuts, with the latter becoming the smallest nation ever to qualify.
Who will not be there?
With an expanded 48-team tournament, there has never been a better chance to qualify, but some eye-catching names are already eliminated, including Greece, Serbia and Hungary from Europe and African heavyweights Cameroon and Nigeria.
When is the draw for the actual World Cup tournament in USA, Mexico and Canada next year?
The draw for the finals will take place in Washington on Friday, December 5 at 5pm.
When does the actual World Cup start?
The tournament will kick off on Thursday, June 11 next year in Mexico City, with the final taking place in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19.
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