World Cup hopefuls Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland have discovered their fate after the draw was made for March’s play-offs, with just two games separating them from a shot at glory next summer.
There would undoubtedly have been a few nerves among fans watching on as the names were plucked out at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich for both the UEFA and inter-confederation draws this afternoon.
Northern Ireland were handed arguably the toughest draw of the three nations, with Michael O’Neill’s men set to face off against four-time world champions Italy away from home in their one-legged semi-final tie.
The Republic of Ireland will also be doing battle on foreign soil for their semi-final after being drawn against the Czech Republic, while Wales will play host to Bosnia and Herzegovina next March.
Should they prevail from their respective semi-finals, Northern Ireland and Wales would then lock horns in the play-off final of Path A.
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The Republic of Ireland will face either Denmark or North Macedonia should they get the better of the Czech Republic.
England safely secured passage to next year’s tournament with a perfect record in qualifying, winning eight from eight and scoring 22 goals without conceding once in Group K.
UEFA play-off draw in full
Path A
Semi-final 1: Italy vs Northern Ireland
Semi-final 2: Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Path B
Semi-final 1: Ukraine vs Sweden
Semi-final 2: Poland vs Albania
Path C
Semi-final 1: Turkey vs Romania
Semi-final 2: Slovakia vs Kosovo
Path D
Semi-final 1: Denmark vs North Macedonia
Semi-final 2: Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland
Team mentioned first plays at home
Scotland, meanwhile, romped to a famous 4-2 win over Denmark to join the Three Lions in the most dramatic fashion, with a pair of stunning late goals from Kieran Tierney and Kenny McLean sending the Tartan Army into dreamland.
It will be the Scots’ first appearance at a World Cup finals since as far back as 1998, when they were managed by the late Craig Brown.
But neighbours Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland must qualify the hard way for next year’s showpiece in the USA, Mexico and Canada after failing to seal top spot in their respective qualifying groups.
Inter-confederation draw in full
New Caledonia vs Jamaica (winner faces DR Congo in final of Path 1)
Bolivia vs Suriname (winner faces Iraq in final of Path 2)
Northern Ireland ended up third in Group A – behind Germany and Slovakia – but find themselves in contention via the play-offs due to their Nations League performance.
Craig Bellamy’s Wales, meanwhile, finished runners-up to Belgium in Group J after edging out Liechtenstein and thumping North Macedonia in their final group-stage matches.
In Group F, the Republic of Ireland left it until the sixth minute of stoppage time to pip Hungary to a play-off spot, with Troy Parrott completing an incredible hat-trick to keep the men in green in the 16-team mix.
How the World Cup play-offs work
The play-offs consist of a semi-final and a final, with 16 teams in the mix and each round decided over one leg.
The 12 group-stage runners-up and the four top-ranked UEFA Nations League section winners – those that have not already qualified – will be in the draw.
The semi-finals are set to start on March 26 and the final will be held five days later on March 31.
World Cup schedule
Key dates
World Cup draw: December 5
European play-offs: March 26 (semi-finals) and March 31 (finals)
Confederation play-offs: TBC
Group stage
Matchday 1: June 11-17
Matchday 2: June 18-23
Matchday 3: June 24-27
Round of 32: June 28-July 3
Round of 16: July 4-7
Quarter-finals: July 9-11
Semi-finals: July 14-55
Third-place play-off: July 18
Final: July 19
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