With the playoff draw complete, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland now prepare for their final steps in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. Each team faces a defining moment in the March fixtures.
Wales have been granted a favourable matchup against Bosnia & Herzegovina in Cardiff. Their emphatic recent victory has sparked belief that they can complete the job on home turf.
Northern Ireland’s hopes rest on upsetting Italy in a difficult away match. Although Italy’s form is far from dominant, their depth and experience cannot be underestimated.
The Republic of Ireland travel to Prague to face Czech Republic in what promises to be a tense semifinal. Troy Parrott’s surge in form gives them hope of pulling off another impressive result.
Additional playoff matches include Ukraine taking on Sweden and Poland facing Albania. Meanwhile, the inter-confederation draw created intriguing clashes involving Jamaica, Bolivia, Suriname and DR Congo.