LIVEIreland's World Cup play-off draw, minute-by-minute live updates

After last week's drama, Ireland are in the hat for the World Cup play-offs on Thursday.

Thu, 20 Nov, 2025 - 09:43

Adrian Russell

11.10am. Here's a reminder of the way things will work this morning:

Ireland will be drawn in an away semi-final against a team from the second pot; before there's an open draw for potential finals.

Pot 1: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.

Pot 2: Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia.

Pot 3: Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo.

Pot 4: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland.

10.41am "Infantino’s brainwave was to realise that the World Cup was not a football tournament but a great machine for generating happiness. By making it bigger he has created more happiness. Simples! I mean, think about it. The World Cup is so big now that even Scottish people get to be happy. This might be a first in modern times."

Ahead of the draw, read Tommy Martin writing on the joy the World Cup has brought this week.

10.20am: So who and what can we expect this morning? John Fallon lays out the potential play-off opponents: form, lowdown, flight costs, and travel bug tips.

10am: Italia '90 era jersey? Check? Oversized sombrero and inflatable hammer? Check. Newly set-up Revolut vault with the friends from your busiest WhatsApp chat? Check.

After last weekend's drama, half the country has been preparing for the new possibility of Ireland actually being at next summer's World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.

But the work is far from done, and there's a couple of more trips to negotiate before that trans-Atlantic booking.

The Boys in Green are in the hat for this lunchtime's playoff (kick-off 12pm) - join us for live coverage as we discover our so'called 'pathway' to the big one.