Ireland could face World Cup games in the early hours

Ireland will be playing World Cup group games in the middle of the night, if they manage to negotiate March’s two play-off games.

Sensational back-to-back victories over Portugal and Hungary have kept the Boys in Green’s dreams of qualification alive, with Czechia to come away from home next year.

Should Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side manage to negotiate that tricky tie, then it’s Denmark or North Macedonia in Dublin five days later.

Following Friday’s draw, the winner of that play-off final is due to face South Korea, South Africa and hosts Mexico next summer.

Two of those games would be in the middle of the night Irish time, while the potential clash with South Africa in Atalanta is at the more sociable time of 5pm.

Ireland’s potential fixtures:
June 12th: South Korea v play-off winner, Guadalajara, 3am Irish time
June 18th: South Africa v play-off winner, Atlanta, 5pm Irish time
June 25th: Mexico v play-off winner, Mexico City, 2am Irish time