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Ireland to play Czechia in World Cup qualifications play-off semi-final

We need your help now Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open. You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough. If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it. One-off amount I already contribute Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Troy Parrott pictured during Ireland's win against Hungary on Sunday.INPHO Ireland to play Czechia in World Cup qualifications play-off semi-final The draw for the qualifiers took play in FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich at midday. 12.38pm, 20 Nov 2025 Share options IRELAND WILL FACE Czechia in their World Cup 2026 play-off semi-final on 26 March. The winner will advance to the play-off final five days later on Tuesday 31 March, keeping Ireland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup in North America alive. The semi-final will be played away in Czechia. Advertisement The other semi-final in Ireland’s group will see Denmark face off against North Macedonia. The winners in both semi finals will then clash in a play-off final on 31 March, with the winner of the Ireland/Chechia match hosting the final (meaning Ireland could play the final at home if we make it that far). Northern Ireland face a daunting trip to Italy in their semi-final, with the winner set to meet either Wales or Bosnia in a final that would be played on Welsh or Bosnian soil. In the other paths, Ukraine or Sweden will take on Poland or Albania for a World Cup place, while Turkyie or Romania will meet the winner of Slovakia vs Kosovo in their play-off final. World Cup play off final draw Italy/Northern Ireland vs Wales/Bosnia* Ukraine/Sweden* vs Poland/Albania Turkiye/Romania vs Slovakia/Kosovo* Denmark/North Macedonia vs Czechia/Republic of Ireland* * denotes home advantage in the final Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Andrew Walsh View 20 comments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “Ireland to play Czechia in World Cup qualifications play-off semi-final”. Recipient's Email Feedback on “Ireland to play Czechia in World Cup qualifications play-off semi-final”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment... This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy before taking part. Leave a Comment Submit a report Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines. 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Ireland to play Czechia in World Cup qualifications play-off semi-final

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Troy Parrott pictured during Ireland's win against Hungary on Sunday.INPHO

Ireland to play Czechia in World Cup qualifications play-off semi-final

The draw for the qualifiers took play in FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich at midday.

12.38pm, 20 Nov 2025

Share options

IRELAND WILL FACE Czechia in their World Cup 2026 play-off semi-final on 26 March.

The winner will advance to the play-off final five days later on Tuesday 31 March, keeping Ireland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup in North America alive.

The semi-final will be played away in Czechia.

Advertisement

The other semi-final in Ireland’s group will see Denmark face off against North Macedonia.

The winners in both semi finals will then clash in a play-off final on 31 March, with the winner of the Ireland/Chechia match hosting the final (meaning Ireland could play the final at home if we make it that far).

Northern Ireland face a daunting trip to Italy in their semi-final, with the winner set to meet either Wales or Bosnia in a final that would be played on Welsh or Bosnian soil.

In the other paths, Ukraine or Sweden will take on Poland or Albania for a World Cup place, while Turkyie or Romania will meet the winner of Slovakia vs Kosovo in their play-off final.

World Cup play off final draw

Italy/Northern Ireland vs Wales/Bosnia*

Ukraine/Sweden* vs Poland/Albania

Turkiye/Romania vs Slovakia/Kosovo*

Denmark/North Macedonia vs Czechia/Republic of Ireland*

* denotes home advantage in the final

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