The draw held this Thursday (20) in Zurich, Switzerland, defined the matches that will define the last classified in the tournament
The four-time world champion will face Northern Ireland on March 26, in the semi-final of the European playoff for 2026. The draw took place this Thursday (20), in Zurich, Switzerland. If they progress, the Italians will face the winner of the clash between Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later.
In another high-profile clash, war-torn Ukraine will face Sweden, who could feature Liverpool striker Alexander Isak and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.
If the Ukrainians get past the Swedes, they will face the winner of the game between Poland and Albania for a place in the World Cup, which will be played in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Republic of Ireland, who reached the play-offs thanks to a late goal from Troy Parrott, which secured a 3-2 victory over Hungary on Sunday (16), will travel to the Czech Republic. The winner of that match will host the winner of the semi-final between Denmark and North Macedonia.
Turkey will face Romania, who surprised by reaching the quarter-finals in the last edition of the tournament in which they were present, held in the United States in 1994. The winner of that game will face Slovakia or Kosovo, who are looking to qualify for a World Cup for the first time in their history.
Intercontinental repechage
The also defined the intercontinental repechage matches for the 2026 World Cup. The repechage format will have two main draws, with two teams qualifying for next year’s World Cup. The games will be played between March 26th and 31st, in the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico.
In one of the brackets, Iraq will await the winner of the clash between Bolivia, which is seeking its fourth participation in the World Cup, and Suriname, a former Dutch colony that historically provided the Netherlands team with some of its greatest players and is now dreaming of its first qualification.
Iraq, which is better placed in the FIFA rankings, will not need to compete in the semi-final. The “Lions of Mesopotamia” only played in one edition of the World Cup, in 1986.
In the other repechage group, New Caledonia and Jamaica will face each other in the semi-final, and the winner will face the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final for a place in next year’s World Cup.
*With information from AFP
Published by Nícolas Robert
