IRELAND will today learn the path that boss Heimir Hallgrimsson hopes to negotiate to the 2026 World Cup.
The qualifying draw for the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico takes place at Fifa’s headquarters in Zurich at 11am.
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Hallgrimsson is staying at home, though, having opted not to travel and to watch from Abbotstown.
Before a single team is drawn out, the Boys in Green know their task in reaching a first World Cup for 24 years looks pretty daunting as they are in pot three and so set to face at least two formidable opponents.
The convoluted nature of the marrying up of today’s draw with the Nations League play-offs sees a format of 12 qualifying groups, six of which will contain four teams and six of which will have five.
The 12 group winners qualify for the finals, with the other four European places in North America decided in play-offs featuring the 12 runners-up and the four best-ranked group winners from the Nations League outside those top two positions.
Contrary to what had been previously thought, Ireland can be drawn in either size group. But as a side facing a Nations League promotion/relegation play-off — against Bulgaria in March — the chances of being in a four-team section are higher.
A group of five can only contain one Nations League finals participant — the top eight finishers in League A — or one promotion-relegation play-off team.
If Ireland end up in a group of four, all six qualifiers would be played in September, October and November 2025.
Five-team groups kick off in March but teams with Nations League commitments would not begin their World Cup campaigns until June.