Football fans across Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland can now circle the critical dates on their calendars, as the World Cup playoff draw confirms the schedules and locations for the high-stakes matches in March. The entire journey is a five-day rush from semi-final to final.
Wales will benefit from back-to-back matches in Cardiff. Their semi-final against Bosnia & Herzegovina takes place on March 26th. Should they win, they will host the final on March 31st, likely against Italy, giving them a monumental advantage.
Northern Ireland’s semi-final is an away trip to Italy on March 26th, the toughest possible draw. If they manage a historic upset, their final would be away against the winner in Cardiff on March 31st.
The Republic of Ireland also has an away start, traveling to Prague to face the Czech Republic on March 26th. Success in Prague would earn them a potential home final in Dublin on March 31st against either Denmark or North Macedonia, which would be their biggest match in decades.
These decisive matches will determine four of Europe’s final World Cup representatives. With the short turnaround between the semi-finals and finals, fitness and squad depth will be crucial factors in determining which nations will secure their passage to the 2026 tournament.