The upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico could feature both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with qualifying set to conclude next year
Tom Blow Deputy Sports Editor
11:14 ET, 05 Dec 2025
Troy Parrott scored a famous winner for the Republic of Ireland against Hungary(Image: Getty Images)
Both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland can still qualify for the upcoming World Cup.
The soccer tournament will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico between June and July next year. United States President Donald Trump has already created headlines with his outlandish brag about the event, with the draw taking place on Friday.
While both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland still don’t know if they will be playing at the World Cup, they will find out on Friday who they will be playing should they win in the playoffs. The draw could serve as an extra incentive for both countries.
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How did each team reach the playoffs?
The Republic of Ireland booked its spot in the playoffs by finishing second in UEFA’s qualifying Group F. Portugal qualified for the World Cup by finishing first in that group; the Republic of Ireland’s second-place finish was only enough to secure a playoff spot.
Yet Heimir Hallgrimsson’s players weren’t initially expected to finish second and overachieved. They managed to sneak into that spot last month by beating Portugal 2-0 in Dublin and completing a sensational 3-2 comeback win against Budapest in Hungary.
The Hungarians were on course to take the runner-up spot in Group F before Troy Parrott’s 96th-minute winner for the Republic of Ireland in Budapest. It will be remembered as one of Ireland’s greatest soccer moments, regardless of how the playoffs unfold.
Michael O’Neill is hoping to lead Northern Ireland to the World Cup(Image: Getty Images)
As for Northern Ireland, Michael O’Neill’s players finished third in UEFA’s qualifying Group A behind Germany and Slovakia after winning three of their six qualifying games. But they were granted a playoff spot after finishing top of their UEFA Nations League group.
When does each team play its playoff games?
The playoffs will take place at the end of March 2026. Northern Ireland is penciled in to face Italy on March 26, with the game expected to take place in Rome. That’s an almighty challenge for O’Neill’s team, as Italy is a four-time World Cup winner.
If Northern Ireland completes its greatest soccer achievement by beating Italy, it will face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31. Just to make things harder for the O’Neill’s players, they will play their final away from home should they reach it.
As for the Republic of Ireland, Hallgrimsson’s players will take on the Czech Republic. That semifinal is expected to take place in Prague on March 26. Should they win that game, they will face either Denmark or North Macedonia in a home final on March 31.
The Republic of Ireland has a much easier playoff route than Northern Ireland; the Czech Republic hasn’t played in a World Cup since the tournament in Germany in 2006, while the prospect of playing at home in the final is much more welcoming than an away trip.
The time and dates of next year’s playoff games are subject to change, but they will still take place around the end of March.
When did each team last qualify for the World Cup?
It’s been a long time since either nation qualified for the event.
The Republic of Ireland hasn’t played in a World Cup since 2002, but the country does have a rich history on soccer’s biggest stage. The team reached the quarterfinals of the 1990 tournament in Italy and qualified for the 1994 edition, which was held in the United States.
Northern Ireland, meanwhile, hasn’t featured at the World Cup since 1986. The country’s greatest soccer moment came in 1982, when the team beat Spain, the host nation, thanks to Gerry Armstrong’s shock winner. Northern Ireland also qualified for the World Cup in 1958.
