Northern Ireland could be reunited with Germany in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
Northern Ireland have been drawn against Germany or Italy, Slovakia and Luxembourg in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Being in a four team group means Michael O’Neill’s men won’t begin their campaign until September, with friendlies to be played during the international windows in March and June as preparation for the competitive fixtures later in the year.
Whoever wins the Nations League Quarter-Final in March between Germany and Italy will enter Northern Ireland’s group.
Obviously whichever one of those giants, who have each won four World Cups, that plays in Group A will be favourites to finish first but O’Neill’s young guns will relish the challenge of taking them on at Windsor Park and away from home.
After winning their 2024 Nations League group, Northern Ireland may have a back door route into the World Cup Play-Offs, but should they win Group A they will automatically qualify for the 2026 Finals which are taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament expanded to 48 teams.
Finishing runners-up in Group A would take Northern Ireland into the Play-Offs and with the likes of Conor Bradley, Trai Hume, Shea Charles, Daniel Ballard and Isaac Price improving all the time at international level, that is a distinct possibility.
Slovakia will present a tough challenge but they won’t fancy a trip to Belfast despite winning on their previous visit here – in a Euro 2020 Play-Off Final when Ian Baraclough was in charge of Northern Ireland.
O’Neill’s team defeated Luxembourg 2-0 at home and drew 2-2 with them away in this year’s Nations League campaign. They will hope to turn those four points into six in 2025 with their World Cup games set to take place in September, October and November.