2026 World Cup

[pineapple stu]

Draw starts at 11am. We're third of four (maybe five) teams, so an approachable second seed is key if this isn't going to be another damp squib like the Euro 2024 campaign, which was our worst in 50 years or more. The second seeds all seem half-decent, though maybe 15 years ago we wouldn't have worried too much about any of them.

UEFA presumably making up the rules as they go along - I think I read somewhere this is the most complicated draw they've ever done in terms of restrictions? I still don't know if we can get a 5-team group or not.


Pot 1

Pot 2

Pot 3

Pot 4

Pot 5



France
Spain
England
Portugal
Netherlands
Belgium
Italy
Germany
Croatia
Switzerland
Denmark
Austria

Ukraine
Sweden
Türkiye
Wales
Hungary
Serbia
Poland
Romania
Greece
Slovakia
Czechia
Norway

Scotland
Slovenia
Republic of Ireland
Albania
North Macedonia
Georgia
Finland
Iceland
Northern Ireland
Montenegro
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Israel

Bulgaria
Luxembourg
Belarus
Kosovo
Armenia
Kazakhstan
Azerbaijan
Estonia
Cyprus
Faroe Islands
Latvia
Lithuania

Moldova
Malta
Andorra
Gibraltar
Liechtenstein
San Marino




Links
2026 FIFA World Cup(fifa) (https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026)
2026 FIFA World Cup(wikipedia) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup)
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification)
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification - UEFA (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA))
2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification - UEFA Group F (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_G roup_F)

[tetsujin1979]

Draw about to start. Coverage on RTE NewsNow

[brine3]

Group so far...

Portugal or Denmark as top seed.
Hungary as second seed.
Ireland as third seed.

Could have been much, much worse

[brine3]

We are in one of the four team groups as opposed to the five team groups.

It's not entirely clear to me how they will decide the final team in our group. I'm not even sure if it will be decided today.... something about waiting for playoffs or something.

[pineapple stu]

Armenia to complete it (being the last team in the playoffs)

Could have been worse, but that's still a very tough group. Hungary have been to the last three Euros and have had some great results in the last few years, including hammering England and drawing at home with Germany and Holland in the last Nations League. The winner of Denmark and Portugal will have beaten Portugal or Denmark to get us of course. And while we should beat Armenia, we didn't the last time we went there.

Obviously the Hungary games are key. Wouldn't be hugely confident of qualifying though.

[brine3]

It's Armenia

[Acornvilla]

It's not terrible! Having a solid 9 months and at least 4 more matches to prep before qualifying is probably exactly what HH needed. More time for these players to develop at their clubs too.

[Bungle]

Not the worst draw.

I mean we have an outside chance of a playoff, but all in all, that's not too bad compared to previous draws.

I do feel we are on the up with a competent manager. Hungary are a good side with some very good players. I think with the wind blowing the right way in terms of injuries we can turn them over though. Armenia are a dangerous pot 4 team that will have the same attitude towards us.

Smaller groups may work in our favour. I wouldn't have faith that we would take six points off pot 5 sides at this point. Less room for a **** up.

[Eirambler]

By our recent experiences that draw is absolutely fine. We won't be favoured to finish in the top 2, but there's a possible path there, which there hasn't been in most recent draws.

-We avoided a 5 team group and having to play qualifiers in June
-We avoided the horrendous looking Group E, which is exactly the kind of group we have been landing in recently
-We avoided Greece
-We got one of the more manageable Pot 2 teams in Hungary
-We're highly unlikely to be in with a chance of winning this group, but the Pot 1 team could have been worse as well.

Overall, not bad at all.

[tetsujin1979]

Record V the other teams in Group F
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDhKP4wtyvw

[Eirambler]

Not Ireland related but a bit of an odd one that Spain and the Netherlands would be better off being the loser of their Nations League quarter final in terms of World Cup qualification prospects. I'd say Spain won't be too worried either way but Netherlands might be happy enough to take the loss and avoid Turkey and Georgia.

[Metrostars]

All the groups with current FIFA Rankings:

Group A: Germany(10)/Italy(9) (winner), Slovakia(41), Northern Ireland(71), Luxembourg(92).

Group B: Switzerland(20), Sweden(27), Slovenia(55), Kosovo(99).

Group C: Portugal(6)/Denmark(21) (loser), Greece(39), Scotland(45), Belarus(98).

Group D: France(2)/Croatia(13) (winner), Ukraine(25), Iceland(70), Azerbaijan(117).

Group E: Spain(3)/Netherlands(7) (winner), Turkey(28), Georgia(68), Bulgaria(82).

Group F: Portugal(6)/Denmark(21) (winner), Hungary(30), Republic of Ireland(60), Armenia(100).

Group G: Spain(3)/Netherlands(7) (loser), Poland(35), Finland(69), Lithuania(142), Malta(169).

Group H: Austria(22), Romania(38), Bosnia-Herzegovina(74), Cyprus(130), San Marino(210).

Group I: Germany(10)/Italy(9) (loser), Norway(43), Israel(76), Estonia(123), Moldova(151).

Group J: Belgium(8), Wales(29), North Macedonia(67), Kazakhstan(110), Liechtenstein(204).

Group K: England(4), Serbia(32), Albania(65), Latvia(140), Andorra(171).

Group L: France(2)/Croatia(13) (loser), Czech Republic(42), Montenegro(73), Faroe Islands(137), Gibraltar(197).

[pineapple stu]

It's not entirely clear to me how they will decide the final team in our group. I'm not even sure if it will be decided today.... something about waiting for playoffs or something.
Just on this btw - Portugal and Denmark play in the Nations League quarter-final in March. The winners will be in our group.

[Exgrad]

When you are as crap as we are at the moment every group looks tough, but will take that draw. Don't see any obviously much easier groups, maybe A or H.

[seanfhear]

Just on this btw - Portugal and Denmark play in the Nations League quarter-final in March. The winners will be in our group.Perhaps Portugal will take a dive, to avoid us ! (wink)

[Nesta99]

Initial rection is that qualification is possible via a playoff, not likely but possible. No group of death so will take that. Hungary is the sort of sides we'd need to be targeting as we improve and past history of Armenia aside we should be beating. You wouldnt rule out being able to frustrate Denmark in a 1st 45 v England and they'd have less individual quality. Maybe its with recent group draws in mind but not bad imo. Northern Ireland have gotten a poor one, Scotland it deends on which side turns up v Greece. Wales have the pick even as a pot 2 side, still a handy enough one on paper. There isnt realy a proper group of death. We need the March and June camps so 4 side group works better.

A better way o putting it is ther is a good spread of pretty equally tough groups rather than one usual (England) cakewalk and 1 (Ireland) stinker.

[Eirambler]

It was always less likely there would be an out and out group of death with the teams spread out among so many more groups than previously. But the Spain/Turkey/Georgia one is nasty all the same. Was worried we were going to be taking that spot instead of Georgia for part of the draw. We could probably forget about any hopes of progressing if we got that group, we'd get nothing off Spain and nothing away in Turkey and that would be that.

Scotland have become the new Ireland, playing Greece four times in 2025. I definitely don't think that's as good a draw as they seem to think it is. The north's group isn't much use to them as they won't be finishing any higher than second in that one at best and they are more or less guaranteed a playoff anyway through the Nations League. A lot of people seem to think Wales got a decent group, but going in as a second seed I would say that is a tough enough draw. Again they need to win it ahead of Belgium for it to be any use to them as they're already in the playoffs.

[elatedscum]

Am I wrong to think Hungary are the best 2nd seed possible? Presumably we end up with them and Portugal, who are 5th to 7th best of the 12 teams in the playoffs. Comparatively tough group overall.

Win the group = qualify
2nd seed = enter playoffs

You'd think, for example, the Nordies have a 50/50 shot of making the playoffs.

[Eirambler]

Best as in strongest or best as in most beatable? I'd say they're one of the better second seeds we could have gotten in terms of giving us a chance - if you look at the other four team groups (where we were always most likely to end up) Greece and Turkey would definitely have been worse, Sweden and Ukraine would probably have been worse. Slovakia or Hungary would have been the ones you'd prefer to draw.

[pineapple stu]

I wouldn't have fancied us against Norway with Haaland, Odegaard and Sorloth in attack. They're inconsistent but they can really turn it on at times.

Greece are the highest-rated of the second seeds by Elo, with Norway, Serbia and Ukraine narrowly behind, followed by Hungary. Actually quite a difference to the FIFA rankings MetroStars has posted, which has Ukraine, Turkey and Hungary as the order.

Hungary have a fair few domestic-based players and the Hungarian league isn't the strongest, so they may be overachieving of late with three successive Euro qualifications and two League A campaigns in the Nations League. I feel we can give them a game, but then I felt that way about Greece too. There's potential for them to be more reliant one player (Szoboszlai) than some of the other second seeds; if he's injured that would help us a lot.

Doing the seeding based on world ranking again makes so much more sense than seeding by Nations League position, which royally screwed us over in the last campaign when we got France as second seeds. I don't think there's a massive amount between any of the second seeds really.

[Bungle]

If our realistic goal is a playoff, we have an outside chance.

I actually don't think there is much between any of the pot 2 teams. Some may have bigger names like Norway, but they haven't qualified for anything in years. The Hungarians have pedigree in that sense and have some very good players. The Serbs and Turks are the ones I really wanted to avoid. The Swedes know how to navigate groups. Ukraine wouldn't be at home so less of an obstable. Wales would have been nicer than Hungary, as would Slovakia. We did okay.

With a good manager, I'm hopeful we will begin to see results improve. The likes of Hungary are the kind of scalps we need to be taking in the next few years to show progress. Here's our chance.

[Insidetherock]

I dont think its the worst draw in the world at all..

It looks like HH is going to be a more pragmatic manager than SK, so the games mightnt be spectacles, but we might have a better chance of grinding results out

We'll have 2 extra camps to produce a system that suits the players

I'm quietly confident we're going to get more competitive

I'm more worried about the NL game in March.. we have to stay in Path B

[pineapple stu]

Fixtures are out -

06/09 H v Hungary
09/09 A v Armenia
11/10 A v Portugal/Denmark
14/10 H v Armenia
13/11 H v Portugal/Denmark
16/11 A v Hungary

Feels way too short to be a World Cup qualifying campaign - though of course really it's the monster groups like 1994 or 2002 that were the exception

[rebelmusic]

I'm not basing this on much but if Ronald plays this campaign I'd take Portugal. Feels like they're due a capitulation if they keep him starting every game. Denmark is the exact type of disciplined team that we really struggle against these days.

Armenia could take points of everyone as well. I dunno, I've gone from thinking we don't have a hope in hell of qualifying to actually hopeful. If HH can figure out the midfield in the June friendlies...who knows. (Assuming there are June friendlies)

[Nesta99]

Could be a dog eat dog group where being hard to beat and draws can keep you in the hunt. Win Armenia x2 are and at least 1 home game win (and draw), you could see it happen even if we know thats its pushing it. But Hungry and pot 1 side could share points. So with a new pragmatic approach, disciplined and hard to play against, can sit in cofortably, with our attack improving as a good old fashioned tricky wingers - big centre forward - ball of energy in the hole or on the shoulder type set up, I think players will hate playing us. If some luck rolls our way well who knows. There are groups that we'd be writing off totally and this isnt one of them.

Fixtures could have worked a bit better for us, hit the ground running for sure but going away to Hungary last game for maybe a make or break isnt the best,

[Eirambler]

I think what I want to see here is progress and the team being competitive in the group, which we haven't had since McCarthy"s second time in charge. We were all but gone after two games in all four of Kenny's groups (which was incredibly poor looking back) and drawing England and Greece in the Nations League this year meant the whole thing was a bust before a ball was kicked.

It would be great to come second and get a playoff. But if we could even take Hungary to the last game, even if we end up finishing third, that in itself would be progress ahead of what will be a massive Euro 2028 qualification campaign for us.

[nigel-harps1954]

Feels way too short to be a World Cup qualifying campaign - though of course really it's the monster groups like 1994 or 2002 that were the exception

Ideal for the FAI to charge €200 for triple header tickets though.

[samhaydenjr]

We've really got to believe that we are well capable of claiming a playoff spot, at least - we have had sixteen players line out for us in the last eighteen months who are currently at Premier League clubs plus Idah and Scales at celtic, who I would still consider a Big-Five league equivalent team. Plus a bunch of other players have significant Big Five League experience. Meanwhile, the list of players who have played for Hungary includes only eleven at Big Five League or equivalent teams. Halgrimsson has two play-off games and a few friendlies to prepare so there is plenty of time to bind the team and develop a gameplan. Yes, Hungary have been overachieving recently and we have been underachieving but we should have as good a chance as them of claiming second, at least, and an outside shot at first.

[MoydowMonty]

Can we just send Shamrock Rovers to play the qualifiers in place of our national team

[EalingGreen]

Yes, Hungary have been overachieving recently and we have been underachieving but we should have as good a chance as them of claiming second, at least, and an outside shot at first.Some interesting background on Hungary's recent revival:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cekk4zp5rg8o

[elatedscum]

I feel like Hungary have more elite players but less depth in their squad - Milos Kerkez is really really good, Szobozslai is starting for the team who is top of the premier league and the champions league. Gulacsi is at the same level as Kelleher and has probably been the second best goalkeeper in the bundesliga for the last decade. Willi Orban is very good as well, captaining Leipzig, 36 champions league games under his belt and 12 europa league games.

But equally, they have players who wouldn't make our squad at all. I'd have them as favourites but I don't think it's impossible to get a win at home and a draw away from home

[EalingGreen]

I'd have [Hungary] as favourites but I don't think it's impossible to get a win at home and a draw away from homeNot impossible of course, but still odds-against. FIFA has Hungary at 30 in their world rankings and ROI 60th, with ELO nearly identical at 27th and 58th respectively.

And as the saying goes, if it's hard to get one result, it must be twice as hard to get two.

Tough draw, I'd say.

[tetsujin1979]

The clues from the Nations League to take us into the World Cup qualifiers
https://futsalfinn.wordpress.com/2024/12/16/analysis-the-clues-from-the-nations-league-to-take-into-the-world-cup-qualifiers/

[pineapple stu]

Georgia beating Armenia 9-1 on aggregate with 15 minutes still to go in Tbilisi tells us we probably shouldn't be finishing fourth in this group...

Portugal host Denmark tonight 1-0 down from the game in Copenhagen with the winners getting the right to be in our group.

And Hungary kick off against Turkey at 5pm 3-1 down from their A/B relegation/promotion playoff first leg last week.

[Eirambler]

A few more interesting scorelines in the early games this evening from a "where do we stand in the greater scheme of things" perspective.

Turkey leading Hungary 5-1 on aggregate sounds reasonably encouraging in terms of our next qualification group.

Greece currently beating Scotland 3-0 in Glasgow - they're heading to League A which probably puts our Nations League results against them into perspective and shows what a shocker of a group we got with both them and England in it.

[pineapple stu]

6-1 Turkey in the end

Portugal take the lead against Denmark; 1-1 on aggregate now

[pineapple stu]

5-2 Portugal after extra time, so they're in our group

Bit of a statement of intent there; Denmark are a good side. They'll fancy winning all six of their group games. Maybe good news for our playoff chances at least

Ronaldo missed a penalty too

[Insidetherock]

Surely Ronaldo will retire at this stage..

Maybe catching Hungary in the first game at home mightn't be the worse thing

[Eirambler]

Would have preferred Denmark obviously, but being honest they're both miles better than us. This will all come down to the Hungary games, and making sure we deal with Armenia, to see if we can nab a playoff place. Hungary are probably still better than us, so it's going to be a big ask to even do that.

[pineapple stu]

Surely Ronaldo will retire at this stage..
I think he's said he wants to try play at the World Cup next year

[rebelmusic]

I had this thought in the Euros that Portugal will have a wobble at some point where Ronaldo will play 2 or 3 games too many and there'll be a big hooplah when he finally gets dropped. It's a bit pie in the sky but the timing for this campaign could suit us.

The realistic hope is 1 point from the two games...stranger things have happened though!

[backstothewall]

Their results are wildly inconsistent. Especially when you consier the firepower available to them.

[Razors left peg]

Ive had concerns about the World Cup in the US for a while now in regards to ticket prices. The last couple of years Man Utd have done preseason tours out here and the cheap seats are often $200 minimum. Concert tickets are regularly $300 and up, so Ive been wondering how the WC cup is going to work and if FIFA would be keeping a cap on prices.

I had a few pints last night with a mate who is working for World Cup ticket sales. They are already selling packages. You can get a 4 game package now for whatever country you want, the 3 group games and knockout if they get there. There is different pricing based on the country. We used Portugal as an example. The package includes hospitality in the FIFA tent at the grounds for 3 hours before each game, after which you will be escorted to your Premium seat close to pitch. Cost is $7,000 for Portugal games. These are not corporate packages either, they run much higher depending on what the need is.

Individual match tickets will go on sale after the draw, I wouldnt be surprised if we are looking at $500 per game

[Colbert Report]

Trick is to wait until the last second when you can get cheap tickets. I've seen numerous sporting events and concerts in Los Angeles doing this. I saw the Rolling Stones for $30 last summer. Americans have money to burn and are all up for a big event, but there's no appetite for Cameroon vs. Australia or Ireland vs. Sweden. I wouldn't worry too much about ticket prices.

[Razors left peg]

Trick is to wait until the last second when you can get cheap tickets. I've seen numerous sporting events and concerts in Los Angeles doing this. I saw the Rolling Stones for $30 last summer. Americans have money to burn and are all up for a big event, but there's no appetite for Cameroon vs. Australia or Ireland vs. Sweden. I wouldn't worry too much about ticket prices.

Ive tried that trick a few times with Lakers tickets and it never works. The Rolling Stones worked because it was in Rose Bowl and no one wanted to go :)

If they are able to charge those prices for crap preseason friendlies then I wouldnt be as confident as you that prices will be lower

[Eirambler]

There's over 100 matches to be played, most of them in a country that is still lukewarm at best towards the sport. I'm sure there will be group games and probably last 32 games that tickets will be available for at a reasonable price as long as your not too picky about what teams are playing. Uzbekistan v Panama anyone?

As for Ireland games...well realistically it will be a massive shock if that becomes an issue.

[EalingGreen]

There's over 100 matches to be played, most of them in a country that is still lukewarm at best towards the sport. I'm sure there will be group games and probably last 32 games that tickets will be available for at a reasonable price as long as your not too picky about what teams are playing. Uzbekistan v Panama anyone?
Dunno whether it's relevant or not, but the EPL held a "Premier League Summer Series" in the USA in 2023, featuring matches between Chelsea, Fulham, Brighton, Newcastle, Brentford and A.Villa.
Chelsea games drew decent crowds, but the other teams' games were very poorly attended.
The planned 2024 Series was cancelled, citing "scheduling difficulties" (yeah, right), though they're going ahead with it again this summer, featuring just 4 clubs, Man U, Everton, Bournemouth, WHU:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cedl62d19n2o

Anyhow, Ticketmaster has prices starting from $76 for the MetLife Stadium NJ, from $65 for Soldiers Field Chicago and from $45 for the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta:
https://www.premierleague.com/summerseries
Obv the "from" is important; otoh, some of those are for double headers, incl Man U.

Not sure what this says for 2026. Clearly the World Cup has an appeal which glorified pre-season summer friendlies cannot. That said, English club soccer must be higher profile in USA than internationals featuring many countries from large parts of Asia, Africa and Central America etc.

I think the number of travelling fans which countries take with them could have a major bearing on ticket prices and availability - I imagine a number of European countries could take huge crowds, plus Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.

[Colbert Report]

Ive tried that trick a few times with Lakers tickets and it never works. The Rolling Stones worked because it was in Rose Bowl and no one wanted to go :)

If they are able to charge those prices for crap preseason friendlies then I wouldnt be as confident as you that prices will be lower

It was at SoFi, brilliant stadium if you've never been.

[Razors left peg]

It was at SoFi, brilliant stadium if you've never been.

Was it? I was sure I didnt go to the Stones because I thought in was in Rose Bowl, my own memory failing me now. SoFi is an unbelievable venue, have been to a couple of gigs there

[Colbert Report]

Yeah, they played twice I think. I saw them the night Trump got shot.