Ireland will soon find out which teams they will have to overcome to make it to the World Cup next summer.
It seemed like this position was barely a possibility at all before the recent international break, with Portugal and Hungary set to put Ireland’s bid to bed.
However, Troy Parrott netted five goals in two games to send the Boys in Green to the World Cup play-offs.
Troy Parrott’s hat-trick sent Ireland to the play-offs. Pic: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images
Thursday night saw a stunning 2-0 win over Portugal in Dublin, before Sunday’s incredible 3-2 comeback in Budapest.
The final round of qualifying matches concluded on Tuesday night, which determined if Ireland would be in either Pot 2 or 3 for the play-off draw.
Pot 2 teams have the advantage of a home semi-final, with FIFA World Rankings determining each team’s position.
Ireland will soon learn their play-off fate. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
For Ireland to be in Pot 2, both North Macedonia and Austria needed to avoid defeat on Tuesday.
However, while Austria drew 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia suffered a 7-1 hammering away to Wales.
This means that Ireland will be in Pot 3 for the draw.
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side will be in Pot 3 for the draw. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side will be away to one of the Pot 2 teams on March 26.
Their potential opponents are Poland, Wales, Czech Republic or Slovakia.
The other teams in Ireland’s Pot are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo.
Meanwhile, the highest-seeded Pot 1 teams will be drawn against the Nations League teams in Pot 4.
The Pot 1 teams are Italy, Denmark, Ukraine and Turkey, while the Pot 4 teams are Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland.
The winners of the Pot 2 and Pot 3 semi-finals will then be drawn against the winners of the Pot 1 and Pot 4 clashes.
This means that Ireland, if they win the semi-final, could once again face Denmark in the play-off final.
Ireland faced the Danes in the play-off for the 2018 World Cup and were hammered 5-1 in Dublin in the second leg.
The home teams for the finals will be randomly drawn.
The play-off draw takes place at 12pm on Thursday, November 20.