2026 World Cup Qualifying Draw Announced

Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have learned their paths for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, which will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Northern Ireland, ranked 71st in the FIFA rankings, faces a challenging draw as they will contend against either Germany or Italy, along with Slovakia, who have historically performed well against them. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland has avoided stronger teams, being drawn in a group with Portugal or Denmark, Hungary, and Armenia, although they still face a tough road ahead. The new qualifying format allows for more teams, with 16 spots available for UEFA nations, yet direct qualification remains limited to group winners, with additional playoff spots up for grabs. Both teams will start their qualification campaigns in September 2025, with the Republic of Ireland seeking to return to a major tournament for the first time since 2016. The stakes are high as both nations aim for their first World Cup appearance in decades.