World Cup Qualification Playoffs - March 2026

**geysir** · 20/11/2025, 6:36 PM

I think the semi final draw is worth more than a modest high five as regards to having a good chance to win through to a home final.
I watched Czechia dodge a big bullet in their home game v Faroes and were deservedly beaten in the return game, albeit I admit to having a smidgen of bias.

**Insidetherock** · 20/11/2025, 6:49 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Not the worst draw by any means, especially when you see what the north got in comparison. That said, we'll still be rank outsiders to qualify from this position. But we can now watch the finals draw next month with genuine interest as there's a not completely unrealistic possibility that we may end up at the tournament, which wouldn't really have been the case if we had drawn Italy away in either fixture.

Unfortunately there's going to be an awful lot of Ireland fans spending huge sums of money to get to Czechia for this who will end up watching the game in a bar in Prague.

You say this.. like its the worst thing in the world 😅

**Eirambler** · 20/11/2025, 6:59 PM

For anyone who does end up in Prague I would wholeheartedly recommend the Letna Beer Garden, don't know if it's open late enough to watch the match there though.

**pineapple stu** · 20/11/2025, 7:04 PM

The Czechs finished second in their group behind Croatia, but endured an up-and-down campaign that included a shock 2-1 defeat to the Faroe Islands, after which manager Ivan Hasek was fired.

Asked if that stunning reversal gave him optimism, Hallgrimsson said, “Well, we lost to Armenia and almost fired the coach then so it is a similar situation then.

He's better with the media than Kenny was anyway!

https://www.the42.ie/heimir-hallgrim...80853-Nov2025/

**the 12 th man** · 20/11/2025, 7:14 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Not the worst draw by any means, especially when you see what the north got in comparison. That said, we'll still be rank outsiders to qualify from this position. But we can now watch the finals draw next month with genuine interest as there's a not completely unrealistic possibility that we may end up at the tournament, which wouldn't really have been the case if we had drawn Italy away in either fixture.

Unfortunately there's going to be an awful lot of Ireland fans spending huge sums of money to get to Czechia for this who will end up watching the game in a bar in Prague.

There was 3000+ Irish fans in Budapest at the game so there's about 2000 disappointed people straight away.

**tetsujin1979** · 20/11/2025, 7:29 PM

Originally Posted by Bungle

If you could substitute Denmark for Ukraine, it would have been perfection.

Still Czechs apart from their huge heritage were arguably the poorest pot 2 team and we avoided Sweden as a pot 4. I really didn't want the Poles away. Denmark are a fine side but we are at home and if we come through Prague, that is huge.

Italy with their gigantic name would have been a nightmare and Turkey are a really good team.

We have a decent chance.

it could all change in March but Sweden are utter dreck at the moment

**Razors left peg** · 20/11/2025, 7:31 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

it could all change in March but Sweden are utter dreck at the moment

They have a lot of good players though

**Eirambler** · 20/11/2025, 7:53 PM

Apparently we'll be in Pot 2 in the finals draw as a result of Denmark's ranking. That, combined with an effort from FIFA to keep European teams apart as much as possible in the groups, means there's a good chance of a favourable finals draw for whatever team emerges from our playoff grouping. Will be weird being involved in the draw when we don't know whether or not we'll actually be involved in the tournament, but that's just the way of it under this new format.

**Bungle** · 20/11/2025, 8:29 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

it could all change in March but Sweden are utter dreck at the moment

Sweden have some amount of top players. If they click, they would be horrible to play against. They have a bit of muscle memory at making tournaments as well.

**Razors left peg** · 20/11/2025, 8:30 PM

Im gonna go full Kevin Keegan if we manage to get past the Czechs. Denmark are up there with the teams in international football that I dislike the most, and we owe them massively. I would Luv it if we beat them

**pineapple stu** · 20/11/2025, 8:34 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Will be weird being involved in the draw when we don't know whether or not we'll actually be involved in the tournament, but that's just the way of it under this new format.

Same thing happened at Euro 2020 as I recall.

**legendz** · 20/11/2025, 8:50 PM

The semi final away draw was always going to be tricky. Massive incentive having the home final to play for. Czechia away nearly as tough as going away to Hungary. Hungary had the goal advantage in that they only needed a draw.
Denmark looked dangerous the other night when down to 10 men. Contentious second yellow at that. Both Denmark and N. Macedonia will be smarting after their defeats. They might take the aggression from that out on each other.
After last Thursday against Portugal, it would be absolutely massive to bring the playoff final to the Aviva.

**backstothewall** · 20/11/2025, 9:05 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

Unfortunately there's going to be an awful lot of Ireland fans spending huge sums of money to get to Czechia for this who will end up watching the game in a bar in Prague.

All the more reason for the Czechs to move the game somewhere else.

It looks to take about 4 hours to get from Prague Airport to Olomouc, and the same back. And that's assuming flights line up with train times, and that our fans can even get train tickets ahead of thousands of Czech fans making the same journey (who have the obvious advantage of speaking Czech).

I know what I would do if I were them.