Ireland to face Czechia in World Cup 2026 Playoffs

The Republic of Ireland have been drawn against Czechia in the semi-final of the playoffs for the 2026 World Cup.

The Boys in Green were placed in path D, following a draw at the FIFA Headquarters in Zürich on Thursday afternoon. As they were drawn from Pot 3, they will be the away team for their single-match showdown against Czechia on March 26.

Should they be victorious in the semi-final, Heimir Hallgrímsson's men would host the winner of other semi-final in path D, which sees Pot 1 favourites Denmark face North Macedonia.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland were drawn against Italy in Path A, and would theoretically face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina should they reach the final.

The Republic of Ireland qualified for the playoffs following successive victories against Portugal and Hungary, the latter of which saw Troy Parrott complete a dramatic hat-trick with what was effectively the final kick of the game, clinching a 2-3 victory.

The 2026 World Cup takes place in the USA, Canada and Mexico, and begins in Mexico City on June 11. The last time Ireland made it to the finals was in South Korea and Japan in 2002, where they were knocked out by Spain on penalties in the Round of 16.

That tournament was also marred by the infamous 'Saipan' fallout between star player and captain Roy Keane and manager Mick McCarthy, a contentious episode which is the subject of Saipan, an upcoming film starring Éanna Hardwicke and Steve Coogan.