Ireland had the best international window of any nation in world, according to the latest Fifa rankings, though that hasn’t been enough to secure a jump out of Pot 3 in Thursday’s World Cup playoff draw.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ireland now rank 59th in the world, up from 62, after accruing 34.86 ranking points, more than anyone else, in the qualifier wins over Portugal and Hungary.<\/p>\n
The lowest-ranking Pot 2 side in Thursday’s draw is Slovakia, now ranked 45th.<\/p>\n
The draw, which takes place at noon, Irish time, in Zurich (Live RT\u00c9 News) will assign Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side an away date with the Slovaks, Poland (31), Wales (32) or Czechia (44). That playoff will take place on March 26, 2026.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland, in pot 4 of the play-offs thanks to their Nations League efforts, stay 69th. Scotland, who qualified with the dramatic win over Denmark, are up two places to 36th.<\/p>\n
North Macedonia, Romania, and Sweden also earned playoff spots due to winning their Nations League groups, albeit with tough away draws against Pot 1 sides in store.<\/p>\n
Spain remain top of the Fifa pile, with Argentina, France and England making up an unchanged top four.<\/p>\n
Brazil climb to fifth, with\u00a0Portugal dropping to sixth due to the defeat in Dublin.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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