The Republic of Ireland this morning discovered their opponents for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
FIFA has introduced some major changes for the the tournament, which has been expanded from the traditional 32 teams to 48.
The United States, Canada, and Mexico have already secured their places in the tournament as the host countries.
READ MORE:Eamon Dunphy column: Awarding the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia is as bad as the Nazis hosting the Olympics
READ MORE: World Cup 2026 draw: Everything you need to know including Ireland's potential opponents and TV channel details
The draw began at 11am Irish time and was streamed live on fifa.com.
The 54 eligible UEFA nations were split into six groups of four teams, and six groups of five teams. Russia remain suspended. Sixteen European countries in total will qualify for the first 48-team finals in 2026 – the 12 qualifying group winners automatically, and then four further teams via play-offs to be played in March 2026.
Sixteen countries will go into those play-offs – the 12 qualifying group runners-up plus the four best-ranked group winners from the Nations League who did not either win their group or finish runner-up in main qualifying. These 16 teams will be drawn into four-team ‘paths’ with the winner of each securing a ticket to the tournament.
Ireland were drawn in Group F, alongside the winners of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark, as well as Hungary and Armenia.
Draw in full:
Group A: Winner of Germany vs Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Loser of Portugal vs Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: Winner of France vs Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Winner of Spain vs Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Winner of Portugal vs Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group G: Loser of Spain vs Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Loser of Germany vs Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: Loser of France vs Croatia, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
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"On the ball he is the guy that can create and score goals, and he is doing that on a regular basis now."
"If we are going to qualify, we need six points against Armenia."
"It is maybe a positive for us to have lost against them. They are seeded below us. I don't think any one of these players would underestimate (them)."
"We've been working a lot on the organisation, especially the defensive organisation. If not for the second-half against England, statistically we improved a lot. I think we have taken good steps, but if we want to qualify then we need points against Denmark/Portugal, and Hungary. We need to be spot on regards the organisation."
"No, I said that in the TV interviews. I think both these teams play similar football, in the sense that they are possession teams with creative players. Portugal has better individuals, but I think Denmark has a really good collective team. They are the best Scandinavian team in terms of technique."
"Two or three really good performances. I won't say the names and put pressure on the players or on me."
"Yeah, impressive. Respect and compliments to them. They are doing well for Irish football, leading the way. I think as well that others will try to copy what they are doing, both inregards to their success."
"Of course there is always pressure, that's this job. It's about winning games. It's going to come fast; September, October, November, then we know. It's going to be a heavy pressure for those three months."
"Kind of neutral (reaction). It could have been worse, it could have been better. It's a group where teams will take points from each other. Looking at it I don't think there will be a runaway winner, which makes it more postive."
…here's a piece on how Ireland's Euro 2025 play-off heartache has cost the side in the latest FIFA World Rankings.
… for Heimir to arrive and give his verdict on the World Cup qualification draw, which probably went as well as could be expected from an Irish point of view.
The fixtures are set to be confirmed this evening.
Group A: Winner of Germany vs Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Loser of Portugal vs Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: Winner of France vs Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Winner of Spain vs Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Winner of Portugal vs Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia
Group G: Loser of Spain vs Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Loser of Germany vs Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: Loser of France vs Croatia, Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
The draw has been made, now it's time for reaction. Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson is scheduled to give his verdict over the next 30 minutes or so. You can follow his thoughts here.
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary, IRELAND, Armenia
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece, Scotland, Belarus
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary, IRELAND, Armenia
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland, Finland, Lithuania
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cyprus
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway, Israel, Estonia
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia, Montenegro, Faroe Islands
Northern Ireland's group is complete
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece, Scotland
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine, Iceland
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey, Georgia
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary, IRELAND
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland, Finland
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway, Israel
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia, Montenegro
Ahead of the Pot 4 draw, here's a reminder of the teams Ireland are likely to get…
Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Armenia, or Latvia
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia, Northern Ireland
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece, Scotland
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine, Iceland
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey, Georgia
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary, IRELAND
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland, Finland
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway, Israel
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia, Montenegro
Group F
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia, Northern Ireland
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece, Scotland
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine, Iceland
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey, Georgia
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland, Finland
Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia & Herzegovina
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway, Israel
Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia
Group K: England, Serbia, Albania
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia
The Scots get Greece
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia, Northern Ireland
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece, Scotland
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland
Group H: Austria, Romania
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway
Group J: Belgium, Wales
Group K: England, Serbia
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia
Northern Ireland face a tough group…
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia, Northern Ireland
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland
Group H: Austria, Romania
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway
Group J: Belgium, Wales
Group K: England, Serbia
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia
The Pot 3 draw will be conducted by Fernando Llorente
Finally, we get to Ireland's pot…
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland
Group H: Austria, Romania
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway
Group J: Belgium, Wales
Group K: England, Serbia
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2), Czechia
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2), Ukraine
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1), Turkey
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3), Hungary
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland
Group H: Austria, Romania
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4), Norway
Group J: Belgium
Group K: England
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2)
Aargghhh… Greece are in one of the four-team groups. We can't surely get them again
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia
Group B: Switzerland, Sweden
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3), Greece
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2)
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1)
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3)
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1), Poland
Group H: Austria
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4)
Group J: Belgium
Group K: England
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2)
… that Ireland will be drawn into one of the four-team groups.
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4), Slovakia
Group B: Switzerland
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3)
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2)
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1)
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3)
Loving the dramatic sting as each team is drawn.
Group A: Germany/Italy (winner quarter-final 4)
Group B: Switzerland
Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser quarter-final 3)
Group D: France/Croatia (winner quarter-final 2)
Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner quarter-final 1)
Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner quarter-final 3)
Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser quarter-final 1)
Group H: Austria
Group I: Germany/Italy (loser quarter-final 4)
Group J: Belgium
Group K: England
Group L: France/Croatia (loser quarter-final 2)
