World Cup Qualification Playoffs - March 2026

[Eirambler]

1 or 4. Let's face it, we're going to be grouped with Italy!

[backstothewall]

I'd take your arm of for any draw that avoids Poland and Italy with a potential final in Dublin.

[pineapple stu]

If we win our first semi. What pot(s) does our final opponent come from?
Worth noting that I think I read somewhere if we lose our semi, we play a friendly against the side that lost to the team we would have reached in the final

Which sounds an awful punishment tbh

[backstothewall]

Worth noting that I think I read somewhere if we lose our semi, we play a friendly against the side that lost to the team we would have reached in the final

Which sounds an awful punishment tbh

The absolute worst case scenario is playing that game in Windsor Park.

[SkStu]

whens the draw on lads?

I dont fear any of those pot 2 teams really. We've proven we can go toe to toe with better. Its 90 mins and we know what we have to do (actually assume it is potentially 120 mins and penos)

[SkStu]

Worth noting that I think I read somewhere if we lose our semi, we play a friendly against the side that lost to the team we would have reached in the final

Which sounds an awful punishment tbh

The Bully Bonus Game

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GOcVFNrWsAAXNX7.jpg

[tetsujin1979]

Worth noting that I think I read somewhere if we lose our semi, we play a friendly against the side that lost to the team we would have reached in the final

Which sounds an awful punishment tbh

That sounds like the worst Sunday afternoon of a stag weekend ever.

[Nesta99]

Everyone Ive spoken to says just not Poland and I wish they'd quit cause thats exactly who'll come out of the hat. I think there are teams saying not Ireland, the really annoying just go away kind of side people hate to play, like UCD. Italy are more solid in name than current side, Denmark are not the side we suffered humiliation to in that previous playoff. Turkey would scare me. Ukraine not really, I dont think all will beat Pot4. Czechia or Slovakia or Wales the wont want to draw us for good reason and thats that we've shown we can beat good sides and have done it under pressure. Were on an upward trend too if we dont implode. Id nearly be more concerned about pitentially playing N.i. just cause ye never know in that kind of derby match. Avoid the 2 home nations and all 3 of us go through!! too perfect to have all 4 + ourselves.....

[Insidetherock]

Honestly, I'd love to get to the World Cup, but I'd trade it now if we got guaranteed qualification to Euro 28.. home tournament.. we can't miss out on that.. would push Irish football into the stratosphere

[Kingdom]

Worth noting that I think I read somewhere if we lose our semi, we play a friendly against the side that lost to the team we would have reached in the final

Which sounds an awful punishment tbh

That was last year for the Euros I'm pretty sure.

[Kingdom]

whens the draw on lads?

I dont fear any of those pot 2 teams really. We've proven we can go toe to toe with better. Its 90 mins and we know what we have to do (actually assume it is potentially 120 mins and penos)

12pm tomorrow our time. You do the maths for your time.

[Kingdom]

Said to others last night, the organisers are surely going to want Italy and Ireland to qualify for a North American World Cup, aren't they? I mean if you've the choice of Ireland vs New Zealand in Denver (or whatever god-foresaken-heck-hole they've chosen in the mid-west) or Czechia vs New Zealand in the same venue, if you're looking at maxing out attendances, you're praying for Ireland...

Likewise, and I mean this with the most sombre appreciation of their situation, but you'd have to think the organisers will be hoping Ukraine don't get there.

[Fixer82]

Italy were a bit shambolic Vs Norway. Denmark no great shakes either. I know little about the Poles, other than they're a great bunch of lads

[Diggs246]

lads if it Wales or Poland, we are in hot water

The other two I would give us a real chance. I would be strongly be of a view tast we should be practicing penos

[legendz]

So back in the playoffs after two forgettable qualifying campaigns. Slovakia and Denmark in the same playoff path would provide an opportunity for playoff redemption after previous two forgettable playoffs in 2017 and 2020.

[rebelmusic]

I've settled on Slovakia and Denmark as well. Denmark drew with Belarus the other day and are on the decline

It would basically be a repeat of the 2021 euro qualifiers and we drew with both teams in that run....and we're a much stronger side at this point I would argue. I think we've drawn with the Danes 3 times since the 2018 shambles?

Slovakia have improved somewhat but I wouldn't fear them. Hopefully Ryanair put on a decent number of flights so we can get a few thousand out to it.

[OMTY]

Slovakia have improved somewhat but I wouldn't fear them. Hopefully Ryanair put on a decent number of flights so we can get a few thousand out to it.

In relation to our support, what is minimum percentage of tickets for away fans. Is it still 5%

I think the following is correct:

Czechia play at Slavia Prague's ground, 19,300 capacity
Slovakia play in Bratislava, 22,500 capacity
Wales play at Cardiff city stadium,33,000 capacity
Poland in Warsaw: 58,000 capacity.

[Kingdom]

In relation to our support, what is minimum percentage of tickets for away fans. Is it still 5%

I think the following is correct:

Czechia play at Slavia Prague's ground, 19,300 capacity
Slovakia play in Bratislava, 22,500 capacity
Wales play at Cardiff city stadium,33,000 capacity
Poland in Warsaw: 58,000 capacity.
`
Slovakia played the North in the new stadiun in Kosice and they played us in Trnava. I wouldn't be sure that they'll play us in the new Telehne Pole!

[OwlsFan]

So back in the playoffs after two forgettable qualifying campaigns. Slovakia and Denmark in the same playoff path would provide an opportunity for playoff redemption after previous two forgettable playoffs in 2017 and 2020.

Denmark were so superior to Scotland last night and played some lovely football until they got a man sent off and even then they were the better team. At one stage the stats were 17 shots to 1 but they imploded in the last couple of minutes, Wouldn't want them but we have to get through the semis (for which no matter who we draw we'll be underdogs) first. Must avoid Poland at all costs.

[SkStu]

A Slovakia --> Ukraine path for me would be optimal... or Czechia first.

In order of preference:
Pot 2
- Slovakia
- Czechia
- Wales
- Poland

Pot1 (assume away)
- Ukraine
- Denmark
- Italy
- Turkey

Id switch Denmark for Italy if we were drawn home for the final.

[Kingdom]

Can we all put on our logical lenny lenses please and resist saying who we want to avoid????

[SkStu]

No. I want to avoid anything that leads to Turkey away. Thats my bottom line. I'd be fine with any of the pot 2s really for the reasons in my earlier post.

The universe can do whatever it wants with those statements.

[backstothewall]

In relation to our support, what is minimum percentage of tickets for away fans. Is it still 5%

I think the following is correct:

Czechia play at Slavia Prague's ground, 19,300 capacity
Slovakia play in Bratislava, 22,500 capacity
Wales play at Cardiff city stadium,33,000 capacity
Poland in Warsaw: 58,000 capacity.

Given how important a game it is i wouldn't be surprised if whoever we face pull a Bosnia on us and hold the game in some small foggy town far from an airport and at the end of a long and ****ty road.

[shakermaker1982]

I watched Wales - North Macedonia last night …..North Macedonia were brutal.

I’m resigned to the fact that we’ll end up with Wales and Denmark (away).

Slovakia are no great shakes so I’d take them in a heartbeat. I’ve not seen much of Czech Republic in recent years but no standout stars in their squad so 50/50 games against both of them.

I think Wales would be a tricky encounter but Poland away is the toughest one. A fit Lewandowski is a scary prospect.

[The Fly]

Here we go…

[backstothewall]

Path D looks easily the most favourable

[The Fly]

Path D looks easily the most favourable
Definitely.

[backstothewall]

We've dodged Italy!

And Poland!

[The Fly]

Not Path A…Phew!

[The Fly]

Yesss. Path D it is.

We get Czechia!

[backstothewall]

Czechia!!!!

[The Fly]

NI get Italy.

Sorry Ealing Green.

[The Fly]

We’ll play the winner of Denmark v North Macedonia.

Thats the best draw we could’ve hoped for!

[pineapple stu]

Denmark tough if we get past the Czechs, but could definitely have been worse.

I'm assuming North Macedonia lose in Copenhagen - would be a lovely spot for a friendly if it did come to it - but let's look at winning this. The Czechs lost 5-1 in Croatia and away to the Faroes. Needed a late winner at home to the Faroes too.

And we're at home in the final if we get there, which is brilliant.

[The Fly]

And…we’d play the Final at Home.

[backstothewall]

That's a dream of a draw. We couldn't realistically have done better

[pineapple stu]

Home against Denmark to qualify for the World Cup - where have I heard that before?

But have to ignore that one for now. This time last week we were looking at a comfortable defeat confirming elimination with a round to spare. Can't get too cocky just cos Parrott turns out to be God!

[SkStu]

Totally agree. About as good as it could be. Denmark could be tricky at home but I think we've shown what we can do now and both games are absolutely winnable. Should be practicing penalties :)

[Exgrad]

The home draw for the final felt critical...the two games we've just had were a more difficult sequence by a distance...

[Nesta99]

Name on a trophy!!

As the draw progressed we got pretty much exactly what we wanted. So not Italy, Poland or Turkey, done - home draw in final, also done. Avod real banana skins from potential pot 4 winners eg NI, Sweden, at face value done. Now just the small matter of replicating beating a higher ranked side for 3/4 in a row or not tripping over the supposed lesser side at home. Context, first path a nighmare so luck holds and avoided. Im pretty sure the Czechs and Danes are very happy too, NM also.

[Nesta99]

Home against Denmark to qualify for the World Cup - where have I heard that before?

But have to ignore that one for now. This time last week we were looking at a comfortable defeat confirming elimination with a round to spare. Can't get too cocky just cos Parrott turns out to be God!

God for a week!! Im sure there are plenty doing the very Irish thing of he'll miss the penalty.....

[joey B]

Best draw possible,2 winnable games and all to play for….

[Straightstory]

We've dodged Italy!

And Poland!

Italy were in a different section of the draw - we could never have played them in the first match. Honestly, pay attention.
Quite a good draw. Denmark are good though - I saw them play Scotland during the week. They should never have lost in Glasgow. Don't know much about the Czechs. They lost 5-1 to Croatia and had rather a poor qualification group.

[pineapple stu]

Italy were in a different section of the draw - we could never have played them in the first match. Honestly, pay attention.
But we could have played them in the second match - until we dodged them...?

[Trequartista20]

Italy were in a different section of the draw - we could never have played them in the first match. Honestly, pay attention.
Quite a good draw. Denmark are good though - I saw them play Scotland during the week. They should never have lost in Glasgow. Don't know much about the Czechs. They lost 5-1 to Croatia and had rather a poor qualification group.​

Lost to the Faroes last month too...

Not a bad draw at all, though the Danes are rather a bogey team for us.

[Trequartista20]

Best draw possible,2 winnable games and all to play for….

Is it written in the stars that we should play in the States again? Would be magic. USA '94 probably my favourite World Cup.

[pixiehead]

Italy were in a different section of the draw - we could never have played them in the first match. Honestly, pay attention.
Quite a good draw. Denmark are good though - I saw them play Scotland during the week. They should never have lost in Glasgow. Don't know much about the Czechs. They lost 5-1 to Croatia and had rather a poor qualification group.

Confidently incorrect. Should have got his story straight.

[Nesta99]

I watched the Scotland Denmark game and while Scotland were very good Denmark were in the game bexause they were let. They stepped up more with 10 men on the other hand. The preference is the least worst option of course. I wouldnt have particularly feared this Italy side but I wouldnt have wanted to play Wales. As the mantra goesm lets worry about the next game. North Mcedonia were hammered last time out but arent as bad as that result suggests, I dont think they'll cause a shock but I dont think they'll have another Wales either. We've gotten teams more at our level and that nearly plays against us as slow starters until we have to go at someone and thats from long before this manager.

[pineapple stu]

North Macedonia were hammered last time out but arent as bad as that result suggests, I dont think they'll cause a shock but I dont think they'll have another Wales either.
Worth noting they were unbeaten in the group up to that point - three draws against Belgium and Wales, and won the rest. Only conceded three goals in the first seven matches.

I think you're right they won't cause a shock, but they're not complete minnows either. Enjoyed watching them at Euro 2020(1)

[rebelmusic]

Amazing draw. Czechia had a ridiculous qualifying group and are very beatable. Might even suit us to play them away so that the counter game is more in our favour.

The Danes are on a big slump similar to us a few years back and I wouldn't say there's any guarantees they beat the Macedons...perfect draw all things considered.

Cheap enough flights to Prague...any idea when tickets will go on sale from past experience?