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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Nick Ames

World Cup playoff draw: Wales face Bosnia, Northern Ireland head to Italy, Ireland go to Prague

World Cup Northern Ireland Wales Italy Prague the 2026 World Cup
Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, stands in front of a graphic showing the European playoff draw.
Fifa’s president, Gianni Infantino, in front of a graphic showing the European playoff draw which has thrown up a host of fascinating match-ups. Photograph: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

Wales and Northern Ireland will do battle for a place at the 2026 World Cup if they navigate playoff semi-finals of differing toughness in March.

The pair would fight it out in Cardiff for a ticket to next year’s showpiece if Wales win a home tie against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Northern Ireland prevail in a fiendish trip to Italy, who are out of form but will be strongly favoured. It is a particularly appetising draw for Craig Bellamy’s Wales, who are flying after defeating North Macedonia 7-1 on Tuesday and are two home victories from a return to the most exalted stage.

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