World Cup play-off draw, as it happened: Ireland to face Czechia in semi-final
SPRINGTIME IN PRAGUE: Martin Dahlin draws out the Republic of Ireland to play the Czech Republic. Pic: INPHO/Priscila Bütler
Thanks for joining us today. John Fallon has been speaking to Ireland boss, Heimir Hallgrímsson and we'll have reaction and analysis throughout the day.
It's a trip to Prague in March and the huge incentive of a home final.
As a great man once said: let's go and compete.
It looks like plenty of Ireland supporters have been busy on Skyscanner in the past 45 minutes.
These are the confirmed dates:
The European semi-finals will take place on Thursday, March 26; with the finals the following Tuesday, March 31.
And, not to get ahead of ourselves, but just to let you know, the draw for the tournament will take place on Friday, 5 December in Washington DC.
Well now, to summarise.
Ireland will take on the Czechs first in their semi-final. Here's everything you need to know about Czechia.
Then -- hopefully - it'll be a huge night at the Aviva against either North Macedonia, or more likely, the very familiar Danes. Tasty.
For Northern Ireland, it's a daunting but exciting trip to Rome - before a possible Cardiff mission.
Italy v Northern Ireland
Wales v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Ukraine v Sweden
Poland v Albania
Turkiye v Romania
Slovakia v Kosovo
Denmark v North Macedonia
Czechia v Republic of Ireland
Now we find who'll host the final, should the advance.
Wales will be at home if they get past Bosnia, Ukraine or Sweden will have home advantage, Slovakia and Kosovo get the nod.
Pot 4 then. Northern Ireland are drawn to face Italy. Tough.
Sweden will take on Ukraine.
Like the follically challenged amongst us, Romania face a Turkey trip and North Macedonia come into the reckoning in Ireland's pathway - they'll face Denmark.
It's Kosovo v Slovakia, so that means it's a trip to Prague for Ireland!
Our old friends Denmark could be waiting in the final - their opponents in the semi are about to be drawn.
Albania away to Poland in Path B. So Czechia or Slovakia for Ireland...
Bosnia v Wales in Path A
Pot 2 next up...
Wales will host semi-final 2 in Path A
Poland will host semi-final 4 in Path B
Slovakia will host semi-final 6 in Path C
Czechia will host semi-final 8 in Path D
Ireland's Pot 3 incoming...!
The draw from is
Path A: Italy
Path B: Ukraine
Path C: Turkey
Path D: Denmark
Really this time... here we go. Pot 1, come on down.
Marco Materazzi, a hero of 2006, plus Sweden legend, Martin Dahlin are introduced to help us through this part of the draw.
One more reminder of the pots then:
: Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.
Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia.
Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo.
: Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland.
Ireland will be drawn against a country from Pot 2 in the semi-final.
Infantino is back out for another speech. He insists he's looking forward to the tournament more than .
Right, strap in... here's the European draw. Time for one more montage, though.
That was economically done and bodes well for the rest of the draw.
It's New Caledonia v Jamaica in the semi-final of Path 1; the winner plays Congo DR for a place at the tournament.
On the other side, Bolivia will take on Suriname in the Path 2 semi-final - with Iraq waiting for the victor.
The matches will take place in Guadalajara and Monterrey.
The international draw is first up. Iraq and DR Congo are seeded, the other four: Jamaica, Bolivia, Suriname and New Caledonia, have to play each other to get to the so-called final.
Tournament competition boss Manola Zubiria -- who'll oversee the draw -- arrives to the stage along with World Cup winner, Christian Karembeu, who looks like he could still do a job in the Les Bleus midfield.
Here's Gianni... Fifa chief Infantino breaks it down for our American friends and promises '104 Super Bowls in one month'.
Here we go! The host welcomes us to the draw for 'the most inclusive World Cup ever' and the 'greatest show on the planet' before a hype-reel of tournament moments from Pele to Zidane.
We're still waiting for proceedings to get underway and it looks like the European playoff draw will come after the international details are confirmed. How long will this go on for we wonder? If this was a wedding speech wager, we'd be backing the over.
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson -- who should be awarded a new contract, according to John Fallon -- has arrived and it's not long now til the draw. You can watch proceedings here:
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.
Italy, Denmark, Turkey, Ukraine.
Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia.
Republic of Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo.
Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland.
"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.
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.
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.
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