Rome: Italy, the four-time world champions, will face Northern Ireland in the European play-offs for the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in March next year.

According to Thai News Agency, the International Football Federation (FIFA) has drawn the 2026 World Cup playoffs to determine the final six teams that will qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.

The latest results indicate that 42 teams have automatically qualified for the next round out of 48 teams, while the remaining six teams will come from the four European playoffs and the two intercontinental playoffs. The semi-finals are scheduled for March 26 next year, with the final on March 31 to determine the four European group champions advancing to the final round.

In these crucial semi-finals, Group A features Italy meeting Northern Ireland, while Wales will compete against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Group B includes Ukraine facing Sweden and Poland against Albania. Meanwhile, Group C has Turkey meeting Romania and Slovakia competing with Kosovo, and Group D sees Denmark playing against North Macedonia and the Czech Republic against Ireland.

The final two quota places from the intercontinental playoffs will take place in Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico, in March next year, serving as a field test before the actual competition. In Group 1, DR Congo awaits the winner of New Caledonia or Jamaica, while in Group 2, Iraq will face the winner of Bolivia or Suriname.