World Cup Qualification Playoffs - March 2026

[rebelmusic]

Is it too late for Liam Delap to declare ?

No. He's only played U21s but I'd be very surprised if he changed allegiance. Lot of hype about him being the long term replacement for Kane. He wouldn't be guaranteed a start either.

I think it's only left back or CM where if someone decent declared they'd be a shoe-in to start. From that I can see on transfermarkt that's Dewsbury-Hall and not much else. He rules himself out a couple of months ago and in fairness was very gracious about it.

For me the most likely to suddenly declare would be Cirkin

[Insidetherock]

For the sake of nothing better to do, I decided to run an AI simulation of a "Swiss Style" qualification format.

11 pots of 5, with 10 games, teams not playing others in the same Pot as them.

I know UEFA also have some mad rules about certain countries not playing each other, and how far you have to fly to travel, but I went with a fairly basic parameter list.

Here was the Ireland fixture list..

The Republic of Ireland (19) was placed in Pot D (Ranks 16-20) in the custom simulation, alongside Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, and Bosnia & Herz.


The fundamental rule for the Swiss-style format is: Ireland must play one team from each of the other 10 pots (A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K), with 5 games Home and 5 games Away.


Here is the full 10-game fixture list for the Republic of Ireland, following the fixed rotation established in the simulation:


Republic of Ireland Full Fixture List (Pot D)



Round
Opponent Pot
Opponent Team (Example)
Home/Away


1
I
N. Macedonia
Away


2
C
Croatia
Home


3
H
Cyprus
Away


4
A
Portugal
Home


5
J
Faroe Islands
Away


6
F
Serbia
Home


7
E
Turkey
Away


8
G
Montenegro
Home


9
K
Andorra
Away


10
B
Italy
Home




The Republic of Ireland was placed in Pot D (Ranks 16-20) in the custom simulation, alongside Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, and Bosnia & Herz.

The fundamental rule for the Swiss-style format is: Ireland must play one team from each of the other 10 pots (A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K), with 5 games Home and 5 games Away.


Here is the full 10-game fixture list for the Republic of Ireland, following the fixed rotation established in the simulation:



Fixture Breakdown



Total Games: 10
Home Games: 5 (Croatia, Portugal, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy)
Away Games: 5 (N. Macedonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Turkey, Andorra)
Key Opponents: The schedule features high-profile matches against Portugal and Italy, while also including games against lower-ranked nations like Andorra and the Faroe Islands, as is typical for a Swiss-style draw aiming for strength-of-schedule balance across the rounds.



That would be, in my opinion.. and absolute peach of a draw..

Basically, what the jammy bar stewards in England would most likely get

[brine3]

I preferred the old format where qualification started the autumn straight after the end of a finals tournament and went on for 18 months or so. It spread meaningful matches over a longer time period and meant there were more meaningful matches to look forward to. It also gave fans a chance to attend more away matches. The three away matches in the group all took place between 9 September 2025 and 16 November 2025, and even the most loyal away fans won't have been able to book time off work and find the money to travel three times in such a short time period.

The Nations League is rubbish, the sooner it is abolished the better. We can go to a format where the qualification groups are made slightly bigger, resulting in more real matches. There are 54 teams vying for 16 spots. So, just make 8 groups (7+7+7+7+7+7+6+6 teams). Top two in each group qualify automatically for the World Cup. Simple as.

[pineapple stu]

The Nations League is rubbish, the sooner it is abolished the better.
Controversial opinion!

I don't think many would agree with that. I think it's been a great addition

I do agree qualifying is too short though

[texidub]

But on the other hand, would the rollercoaster have been as insane and enjoyable if it hadn't all been packed into a few months?

[Eirambler]

I think the days of 6 and 7 team groups have come and gone to be honest.

[elatedscum]

it'll never happen but i'd love more international windows etc. get rid of the carabao cup and use the free game time to get in 4 more international games per year.

[legendz]

The Nations League is an improvement on friendlies anyway. I've only read up a bit on the playoffs in recent days, since Sunday. Overall not a bad format. Group winners automatically through. Group runners up into playoffs. The lower ranked Pot 4 then for those availing of the Nations League route.

Any format can be expected these days, with the Swiss Model system a possibility. The example given above of 10 matchdays is a jump from the current 6 rounds plus 2 relegation/promotion playoff matches.

[Insidetherock]

The Nations League is an improvement on friendlies anyway. I've only read up a bit on the playoffs in recent days, since Sunday. Overall not a bad format. Group winners automatically through. Group runners up into playoffs. The lower ranked Pot 4 then for those availing of the Nations League route.

Any format can be expected these days, with the Swiss Model system a possibility. The example given above of 10 matchdays is a jump from the current 6 rounds plus 2 relegation/promotion playoff matches.

The ten match days might be too much for the clubs, but it could easily be brought back to 8 match days.. the five team qualifying groups have 8 as it is.

The only thing it would be encroaching on, is the Nations League play offs and finals.

[legendz]

“Broadcast revenues and fan engagement around the international qualifiers have been going down, but they’ve been going up in the Nations League,” the source said.

“It’s been looked at before, but finding the right balance — one that keeps jeopardy for the big nations and opportunity for smaller teams — is extremely difficult.”
The current format didn't seem bad but different strokes for different folks.
12 automatic and 4 playoff route spots this time round. Possibly something like 8 automatic, 8 direct to playoff finals and 16 in playoff semi finals is the kind of tiered approach UEFA might take. At the end of the day, it'll be revenue driven.
The Euros are more difficult to increase jeopardy with 22 or 23 qualifying spots.

[rebelmusic]

Assuming we qualify...will we get any friendlies? I still think the Collins to DM role is something that hasn't been tested properly bar that one half against England. And we still don't have a game plan for beating minnows. In all likelihood there'll be one ****e team in our WC group...maybe I'm getting ahead of myself

And would you take Scales or O'Brien at CB at this stage? O'Brien was dropped recently but I didn't find out why.

[SkStu]

Bosnia take the lead away to Austria...

[Bungle]

Really need the Danes and Austria to come back.

[Insidetherock]

Ffs.. we're all cheering on North Macedonia.. and Austria leave us down

[culloty82]

Really need the Danes and Austria to come back.

Scotland were going to be above us anyway, so don't think that makes any difference to us?

[SkStu]

Penalty Wales - scored

[culloty82]

Which is converted.

[Bungle]

Scotland were going to be above us anyway, so don't think that makes any difference to us?

The Danes would be pot 1 and Poland pot 2. We would be snookered in terms of pot 2 chances.

[rebelmusic]

Today is feeling like the opposite to Sunday 😂

[SkStu]

2-0 Wales

2-1 now

[Insidetherock]

We're heading away.. Glasgow or Cardiff it is 😆

[SkStu]

3-1 Wales... matching the total number of goals scored against NM across the entire campaign.

[pixiehead]

Neutral venue (Ukraine)
Warsaw
Cardiff
Prague

as it stands. (HT)
Bratislava would replace neutral venue/Warsaw if Austria score.
Glasgow replaces neutral venue if Denmark score.

Warsaw
Cardiff
Glasgow
Prague

Austria eualiser...

Cardiff
Glasgow
Prague
Bratislava

Scotland lead goal....

Warsaw
Cardiff
Prague
Bratislava

[legendz]

World Cup Playoff Pots (at HT):

1 - Italy
1 - Denmark
1 - Turkey
1 - Austria

2 - Ukraine
2 - Poland
2 - Wales
2 - Slovakia

3 - Czechia
3 - Ireland
3 - Albania
3 - Kosovo

4 - Romania (NL)
4 - Sweden (NL)
4 - N. Macedonia (NL)
4 - N. Ireland (NL)

Pot 1 vs Pot 4
Pot 2 vs Pot 3

[pixiehead]

World Cup Playoff Pots (at HT):

1 - Italy
1 - Denmark
1 - Turkey
1 - Austria

2 - Ukraine
2 - Poland
2 - Wales
2 - Slovakia

3 - Czechia
3 - Ireland
3 - Albania
3 - Kosovo

4 - Romania (NL)
4 - Sweden (NL)
4 - N. Macedonia (NL)
4 - N. Ireland (NL)

Pot 1 vs Pot 4
Pot 2 vs Pot 3

Czechia will jump ahead of Slovakia in the new rankings.

[backstothewall]

Neutral venue (Ukraine)
Warsaw
Cardiff
Prague

as it stands.
Bratislava would replace neutral venue if Austria score.

Bratislava could be powerful craic if Ukraine and Slovakia both end up hosting games there over the same weekend. Fans from 4 countries would give it the feel of a mini Euros.

[legendz]

Denmark equalise after VAR penalty awarded. Scotland back in Pot 2 for now.

[backstothewall]

Denmark down to 10 men. McGinn clearly dived but it was a 2nd yellow so no VAR

[pixiehead]

Bratislava could be powerful craic if Ukraine and Slovakia both end up hosting games there over the same weekend. Fans from 4 countries would give it the feel of a mini Euros.
Looks like they played the 3 home games in last group stage in Poland (warsaw/wroclaw)
Moot at the moment unless Scotland score and Austrian don't

[pineapple stu]

Denmark down to 10 men. McGinn clearly dived but it was a 2nd yellow so no VAR
Sounds daft that VAR can't intervene for a second yellow.

[Nesta99]

red = game changing decision, reviewed
2nd yellow aka red = game changing decision not reviewed.....

So if we desperately need a late advantage all get booked then start diving under every challange, they are hardly ever booked and it wont be checked anyway. Only in football, if the Scots voted that at an IFAB meeting it would be kind of amusing.

[backstothewall]

Sco 2 Den 1

[legendz]

Scotland back in the lead. Austria have equalised.

[backstothewall]

Denmark level it up again

[Nesta99]

One he few things harder than being an Ireland fan is being a Scotland fan!

[legendz]

Denmark equalise! Dramatic night!

[pixiehead]

Warsaw
Cardiff
Prague
Bratislava

Whatever happens it'll be a good away trip

[legendz]

Scotland back in the lead! Incredible!

[Nesta99]

Maybe not!

[rebelmusic]

What does that do to the pots?

[nigel-harps1954]

Looks like..by my reading of the situation..

1. Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine
2. Poland, Wales, Czechia, Slovakia
3. Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania
4. Romania, Sweden, N Macedonia, N Ire

[legendz]

4-2 Scotland. 4th goal from halfway line!

[pineapple stu]

Brilliant stuff from Scotland, and you can't put it all on the red given Denmark equalised with ten men

But the question now is - if Scotland draw Curacao or Jordan or Cape Verde, how do they **** up and still not get out of the groups?

[Nesta99]

Pot 1 v Pot 4 is far from forgone, some messy ones for top seeds.

[Nesta99]

Brilliant stuff from Scotland, and you can't put it all on the red given Denmark equalised with ten men

But the question now is - if Scotland draw Curacao or Jordan or Cape Verde, how do they **** up and still not get out of the groups?

By Lopes scoring the goal that sends them home and never hearing the end of it on foot.ie

[geysir]

Scotland have real cause to fully celebrate as their spectacular win puts them in the Finals, Ireland's spectacular victory just earns them a rocky road play off spot.

[legendz]

World Cup Playoff Pots CONFIRMED:

1 - Italy, Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine.
2 - Poland, Wales, Czechia and Slovakia.
3 - Ireland, Albania, Bosnia and Kosovo.
4 - Romania (NL), Sweden (NL), N. Macedonia (NL) and N. Ireland (NL).

Pot 1 v Pot 4
Pot 2 v Pot 3

Last visit to Prague was in 2007, Warsaw in 2015 competitively (friendly in Wroclaw in 2018) and Cardiff in 2020 (Nations League). Playoff heartache in Bratislava in 2020.

[backstothewall]

I put on a bit of the BBC Wales coverage as watching the Scots celebrating was just sickening.

Ashley Williams and Joe Ledley agreed. Anyone but Ireland.

[Eirambler]

Scotland have real cause to fully celebrate as their spectacular win puts them in the Finals, Ireland's spectacular victory just earns them a rocky road play off spot.

Still hurting over Iceland getting knocked out last night then?!

[Diggs246]

If we win our first semi. What pot(s) does our final opponent come from?