Ireland Drawn Against Bulgaria in Nations League Play-Off

The Republic of Ireland will face Bulgaria in a promotion/relegation play-off for the UEFA Nations League, scheduled for March 20 and March 23, 2025. Ireland, having finished third in their League B group, must win over two legs to maintain their status in League B. The last encounter between the teams ended in draws in the 2020 Nations League campaign. Bulgaria, currently ranked 84th in the world, has had a turbulent recent history, but has shown the ability to secure surprising results despite being on a downward trend in FIFA rankings. The first leg will take place in Bulgaria, with Ireland hosting the second leg at home. This matchup comes after a mixed campaign for Ireland, marked by defeats to England and Greece, but they managed to avoid outright relegation.