Soccer: Ireland wait for World Cup seeding fate

Mick McCarthy will today learn the scale of the challenge awaiting the Republic of Ireland and at the World Cup finals as the seedings are announced.

Mick McCarthy will today learn the scale of the challenge awaiting the Republic of Ireland at the World Cup finals as the seedings are announced.

Reports indicate that Republic of Ireland and England are likely to be among the eight-strong group of second seeds.

In that case, they would be drawn in a four-team group also containing one of the six strongest sides or one of the two host countries, Japan and South Korea.

The actual draw does not take place until Saturday but Fifa's organising committee are due to convene to decide how the seeding process will work and which countries will be favoured.

The only countries certain of being seeded are Japan, South Korea, defending champions France, Argentina and Brazil.