The draw for the European play-offs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place on Thursday, November 20, in Zurich, Switzerland. Sixteen teams, including Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, learned their potential paths to next year's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Wales will face Bosnia and Herzegovina at home in the semi-final, with the match scheduled for Thursday, March 26. Should they win, they would host the Path A final, potentially against Italy or Northern Ireland. The Cardiff City Stadium is expected to be the venue, though a switch to the larger Principality Stadium remains a possibility.
Northern Ireland were drawn into the same Path A and will travel to face Italy. The two sides have met 11 times previously, with Northern Ireland winning only once, in 1958. If they cause an upset, they could face Wales in Cardiff for a place at the World Cup.
The Republic of Ireland, buoyed by Troy Parrott's stoppage-time winner against Hungary, will travel to Prague to face the Czech Republic. Victory would set up a home final against either Denmark or North Macedonia, with Dublin expected to host the decisive match.
The play-off semi-finals will be played on March 26, with the finals taking place on a date yet to be confirmed. England and Scotland have already secured their spots at the 2026 World Cup.
