Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have an opportunity to secure a spot in the upcoming World Cup through the play-off rounds.
Northern Ireland secured their participation due to their performance in the Nations League, where they emerged as group winners, while Troy Parrott’s stellar performance in the match against Hungary guaranteed the Republic of Ireland a second-place finish in their respective World Cup qualifying group.
Could Northern Ireland play Republic of Ireland in a World Cup 2026 Playoff Final?
The structure of the play-offs is more intricate than in previous years. Teams that finish in second place in each of the 12 qualifying groups automatically secure their place in the qualification process.
The remaining four qualification spots are determined based on performance in the Nations League, with group-winning teams that did not secure a top-two finish in their World Cup qualifying group having the opportunity to participate in the play-offs.
Northern Ireland qualified through this route, as all group winners from Nations League A and B ultimately finished within the top two of their respective World Cup qualifying groups.
Ultimately, four of the sixteen teams participating in the play-offs will advance to the World Cup the following year. There are four distinct pathways, each consisting of one team drawn from each of four different pots.
The composition of the first three pots is determined by FIFA world rankings, while the fourth pot is determined by performance in the Nations League. The composition of the four pots is as follows:
- Pot 1: Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, Denmark.
- Pot 2: Wales, Slovakia, Poland, Czech Republic.
- Pot 3: Kosovo, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania.
- Pot 4: Romania, Northern Ireland, Sweden, North Macedonia.
Teams drawn from Pot 1 will host semi-final matches against teams drawn from Pot 4, while teams drawn from Pot 2 will host teams drawn from Pot 3.
The nation that will host each final will be determined via a separate draw following the conclusion of the semi-final matches.
Therefore, is it possible for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to compete against each other in the play-offs?
The answer is yes. If both teams are drawn into the same pathway during the play-off draw, they could potentially face each other in a decisive match that determines which team will secure a coveted spot at the World Cup in March 2026.
Northern Ireland is scheduled to play an away match against one of the following nations: Italy, Ukraine, Turkey, or Denmark. Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland will also play an away match against either Wales, Slovakia, Poland, or the Czech Republic.
Should both teams emerge victorious in their respective semi-final matches, it could potentially lead to an enthralling final match held at either the Aviva Stadium or Windsor Park, a game that would undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.
There also exists the possibility that both teams could face Wales at some stage. The Republic of Ireland might encounter Wales in the semi-final, while Northern Ireland could face them in the final match.
