HEIMIR HALLGRÍMSSON has told Ireland fans they can start pricing up the World Cup in 2026 but not to book anything yet.
Ireland were placed in a group which will have Portugal or Denmark as well as Hungary and Armenia.
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The top seed will be determined by which team wins the Nations League play-off between the pair in March.
Second place would secure a play-off spot and Ireland did beat Hungary in a friendly in June under interim boss John O’Shea, now Hallgrímsson’s assistant.
And the Icelander believes topping the group is not out of the question either as he sized up the six games which will take place between September and November.
Hallgrímsson said: “We will be ready it comes to September. I’m not going to tell you to book flights to USA but start looking.
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“No one has that first spot reserved. Of course, the top seeded team is most likely to be there but it’s not always like that.”
Although Portugal won all 10 Euro 2024 qualifiers before losing to France on penalties in the quarter-finals, he sees little between them and Denmark, who also reached the finals – losing to Germany in the second round – but were beaten in Finland and Kazakhstan along the way.
Hallgrímsson said: “I feel like both of these teams play similar type of football, they are possession teams with creative players.
“Portugal has better individuals than Denmark but Denmark has a really good collective team.
“They are the best Scandinavian team with regard to technique and pressing.
“They are a little bit different but they play a similar type of football.
“I think it’s a group that definitely teams will take points from each other.
“I don’t think there will be a runaway winner which makes it more possible to qualify, so good for us.
“The games are going to come and go fast, September, October, November, then we know if we are going to qualify or not.
“That’s going to be a heavy pressure for these three months.”
Ireland were beaten on their last trip to Armenia, in June 2022, but Hallgrímsson believes that will ensure his players will treat them with respect.
He said: “It’s probably good to have lost to them.
“They are seeded below us but I don’t think any of the players would underestimate them.
“They are solid, they have got some good results and when they lose, it is usually only by one goal.
“They are a tricky opponent, going away and logistics and stuff.
“If we are going to qualify we are going to need six points against Armenia.”