World Cup Pathway Clarified: What Wales and Northern Ireland Could Face

Wales and Northern Ireland must each win through playoff ties before they can reach the 2026 World Cup, but the December draw placed them in the same playoff pathway so only one can qualify for North America.

Playoff route

Both nations enter the European playoff bracket that produces a single qualifier. Northern Ireland travel to Bergamo to face Italy on March 26, while Wales host Bosnia and Herzegovina on the same date. The winners of those matches will meet five days later in a one-off decider hosted by the winner of Wales v Bosnia, with the victor securing a place at the World Cup.

If either team advances

Should Wales or Northern Ireland win the playoff path and reach the finals, they would be placed in Group B alongside hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar. Group fixtures for that pathway are scheduled as follows (UK times): opener in Toronto at 20:00, second match in Los Angeles at 20:00, and the final group game in Seattle at 20:00.

Tournament format and schedule

The 2026 World Cup expands to 48 teams across 12 groups of four. It runs from June 11 to July 19 and features 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada, with 78 games in the U.S., 13 in Mexico and 13 in Canada. Group winners, runners-up and eight third-placed teams advance to a new round of 32; the eventual champion will play eight matches.