Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men qualified for the play-offs on Sunday when Troy Parrott’s hat-trick secured a 3-2 win away to Hungary
22:20, 18 Nov 2025Updated 22:22, 18 Nov 2025
Troy Parrott and teammates celebrate after beating Hungary(Image: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP via Getty Images)
Ireland will have to do it the hard way if they are to qualify for a first World Cup in 24 years – after Tuesday night’s results put Heimir Hallgrímsson’s men in Pot 3.
That means they will face one of the four Pot 2 sides away from home – Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia.
And if Ireland progress past that tie, they will face a final against the winners of a Pot 1 versus Pot 4 semi-final.
Italy, Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine are all in Pot 1 and will be favourites to win their games as they will have home advantage, with Romania, Sweden, N Macedonia and N Ireland on the other side of that draw.
A decision on each home team for the finals will be decided by a draw, rather than seeding or ranking.
The Boys in Green were hoping to sneak into Pot 2 and to secure an easier route to next summer’s finals, however they needed both Austria and North Macedonia to avoid defeat.
While Austria drew 1-1 at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina, it was soon apparent that North Macedonia would do no favours, as they were hammered 7-1 away to Wales.
Northern Ireland are in Pot 4 and will face a tricky trip to one of the Pot 1 sides as they bid to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The draw for the play-off semi-finals will take place on Thursday at noon in Zurich. The semi-finals will be played on March 26 and the finals on March 31.
Pot 1
Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine
Pot 2
Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia
Pot 3
IRELAND, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo
Pot 4
Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland