IRELAND will face Armenia, Bulgaria, Kosovo or Slovakia in the Nations League promotion-relegation play-off.
Last night’s penultimate round of fixtures confirmed the placings of the League C teams Ireland can face as the Boys in Green look to retain their League B status.
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Ireland faced off against three of the League C teams during Stephen Kenny’s reign.
Slovakia, who beat them in a Euro 2020 play-off, are the biggest threat to Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side as they are ranked 22 places higher in 41st.
They face Estonia tonight in their final Nations League game but are guaranteed to finish runners-up in the group behind Sweden as they have a worse head-to-head record.
Armenia finished their group on Sunday, coming a distant second to North Macedonia.
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They beat Kenny’s men in Yerevan in the 2022 Nations League before a late Robbie Brady goal sealed a 3-2 victory at the Aviva Stadium.
Bulgaria’s runners-up status was confirmed last night as they drew with Belarus in Sofia. Northern Ireland topped the group to win promotion.
Bulgaria played Ireland in the Nations League in 2020 — Kenny’s first game in charge — in a clash that ended 1-1, with the return in Dublin a scoreless draw.
The Boys in Green have never played Kosovo.
Franco Foda’s team were admitted into Fifa in 2015 and played their first competitive Under-21 match against Ireland, at Tallaght Stadium in 2017, losing 1-0.
The Kosovars’ game with Romania was abandoned last Friday when Kosovo walked off the pitch due to alleged pro-Serbia chanting from the Romanian supporters.
Uefa have begun disciplinary proceedings and could potentially award a walkover win to Kosovo, with a 3-0 victory meaning they are level on points and head to heads with Romania.
But even if that proves to be the case, Romania would still have a better goal difference and would top the group.
The draw for the play-offs take place in Uefa HQ in Nyon on Friday.
The ties will take place on March 20 and March 23, with Ireland at home in the second leg.