Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are preparing for a defining stage in their World Cup journey after the playoff draw revealed their semi-final fixtures. Each team now enters the final stretch of preparation before March’s decisive games.
Wales will enjoy the support of a home crowd when they face Bosnia & Herzegovina. Their recent 7–1 performance has made them one of the form teams heading into the playoffs.
Northern Ireland face a significant challenge as they travel to Italy. Although Italy have displayed inconsistency, they remain one of the toughest opponents in knockout football.
The Republic of Ireland head to Prague to play Czech Republic. Troy Parrott’s remarkable goal-scoring run has revitalized belief that Ireland can reach a home final for the first time in years.
Other European playoff contests include Ukraine meeting Sweden and Poland taking on Albania. The inter-confederation lineup also piqued interest, with Jamaica and Iraq receiving encouraging semifinal pathways.