Ireland paired up with old foes in tricky World Cup qualifiers group

Ireland have learned their fate in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers draw, but the action will not start until next September. The Boys in Green have been placed in a four-team group due to their participation in March’s Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs. A round of friendlies will then follow in June before the side start their rapid campaign – which lasts all of two months – between September and November.

Ireland have been placed in a group alongside either Denmark or Portugal alongside Hungary, with a fourth side still to be drawn. The full identity of the Boys in Green’s group won’t be known until March when the Danes and Portuguese clash in the Nations League Eight sides will be participating in March’s Nations League quarter-finals, meaning the final identity of some groups is yet to be determined. Group A: QF4, Slovakia, Northern Ireland Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia Group C: QF3, Greece, Scotland Group D: QF2, Ukraine, Iceland Group E: QF1, Turkey, Georgia Group F: QF3, Hungary, Republic of Ireland Group G: QF1, Poland, Finland Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia Group I: QF4, Norway, Israel Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia Group K: England, Serbia, Albania Group L: QF2, Czechia, Montenegro.