NI to face Germany or Italy in World Cup qualifiers
Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland found out their World Cup qualifying opponents on Friday morning
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Northern Ireland will face Germany or Italy in their 2026 World Cup qualifying group with Slovakia and Luxembourg definitely among the opposition for Michael O'Neill's side.
The winners of the Nations League play-off between Germany and Italy in March will be the top seed in Group A.
The Republic of Ireland's Group F opposition will be the winners of the Nations League play-off between Portugal and Denmark plus Hungary and Armenia.
With both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in four-team groups, their qualifying campaigns will not begin until next September.
Only group winners will secure automatic spots in the USA, Canada and Mexico with the 12 runners-up going through to play-offs where four qualifying berths will be available. The play-off rounds will also include four countries that qualify via the Uefa Nations League.
Northern Ireland faced Luxembourg in their recent Uefa Nations group with O'Neill's side winning 2-0 at Windsor Park in September before last month's 2-2 away draw.
Slovakia ended Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2020 when earning a 2-1 extra-time play-off win in Belfast in November 2020.
Northern Ireland faced Italy in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers when the side then managed by Ian Baraclough lost 2-0 in Parma in March 2021 before holding the Azzurri to a 0-0 draw at Windsor Park eight months later.
Germany were Northern Ireland's opposition in the Euro 2020 qualifiers with the Germans triumphing 2-0 in Belfast before going on to earn a thumping 6-1 victory in Frankfurt.
After their brutally tough Euro 2024 qualifying group where they had to face France and the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland look to have been dealt a much better hand.
Portugal (sixth) and Denmark (21) sit way above the 60th-rated Irish in the Fifa rankings but Heimir Hallgrimsson will surely reason that the draw could have been a lot worse.
Hungary reached Euro 2024 and now sit 30th in the rankings and Hallgrimsson will be determined to avoid a repeat of the Irish side's shock 1-0 Nations League by Armenia in June 2022.
Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifying fixtures
Thursday 4 September 2025 - Luxembourg v Northern Ireland
Sunday 7 September - Germany or Italy v Northern Ireland
Friday 10 October - Northern Ireland v Slovakia
Monday 13 October - Northern Ireland v Germany or Italy
Friday 14 November - Slovakia v Northern Ireland
Monday 17 November - Northern Ireland v Luxembourg
Republic of Ireland World Cup qualifying fixtures
Saturday 6 September - Republic of Ireland v Hungary
Tuesday 9 September - Armenia v Republic of Ireland
Saturday 11 October - Portugal/Denmark v Republic of Ireland
Tuesday 14 October - Republic of Ireland v Armenia
Thursday 13 November - Republic of Ireland v Portugal/Denmark
Sunday 16 November - Hungary v Republic of Ireland