Teams Drawn for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Ireland, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have learned their opponents for the qualification rounds of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place in North America. Ireland will compete against either Portugal or Denmark, Hungary, and Armenia, while Scotland has been drawn with Greece and the same Pot 1 team from the Portugal-Denmark matchup. Northern Ireland will face Germany or Italy, along with Slovakia and Luxembourg. The qualification matches will begin in September 2025 and run through November. Notably, FIFA's recent draw has been criticized for its lack of transparency and the absence of media presence, leading to questions about the integrity of the process, including the unopposed awarding of the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia. The teams are striving to secure a spot in the finals, with the last World Cup appearance for Scotland dating back to 1998.