Euro 2025 play-offs: Wales, Scotland & NI look to progress

Wales midfielder Angharad James, Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir and Northern Ireland forward Simone Magill.Image source, Getty Images
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Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales all feature in the first round of Euro 2025 play-offs this month as they look to qualify for next year's tournament in Switzerland.

Scotland take on Hungary, Northern Ireland will face Croatia and Wales have been drawn against Slovakia.

All three ties, which are being played home and away over two legs, will be shown live on the BBC.

Should Wales beat Slovakia, they could face the Republic of Ireland in the second round of play-offs, if Eileen Gleeson's side get past Georgia.

Scotland would face Montenegro or Finland if they advance. Northern Ireland would take on Albania or Norway.

European champions England have already qualified for the tournament, so will play friendlies against Germany and South Africa during this month's international break.

What are the Euro 2025 play-off fixtures?

With nine of the 16 spots for Euro 2025 already taken, there are two rounds of play-offs to decide the remaining seven places.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales were in League B of the Uefa Nations League, meaning they face fellow League B sides in the first round of the play-offs.

As the Republic of Ireland are in League A, they face Georgia, from League C, in the first round.

Path 1 - League C v League A

*Fifa world rankings in brackets

  • Romania (44) v Poland (32)

  • Greece (61) v Belgium (20)

  • Montenegro (88) v Finland (26)

  • Georgia (118) v Republic of Ireland (24)

  • Slovenia (40) v Austria (17)

  • Luxembourg (116) v Sweden (5)

  • Belarus (55) v Czech Republic (28)

  • Albania (73) v Norway (16)

Path 2 - League B

  • Turkey (58) v Ukraine (35)

  • Croatia (57) v Northern Ireland (45)

  • Bosnia & Herzegovina (63) v Serbia (34)

  • Azerbaijan (75) v Portugal (22)

  • Hungary (46) v Scotland (23)

  • Slovakia (51) v Wales (29)

All first-round ties to be played 25 and 29 October.

How to follow home nations Euro 2025 play-offs via the BBC

You can follow updates from the home nations' Euro 2025 play-off matches via the BBC.

  • Scotland's trip to Hungary on 25 October (17:15 BST kick-off) will be broadcast live on BBC Alba. The visit of Hungary to Easter Road on 29 October (19:35 GMT) will be broadcast live on BBC Scotland. There will also be live text coverage on the BBC Sport website and app of both legs.

  • Wales' first leg in Slovakia on 25 October (16:30 BST) and second leg in Cardiff (19:15 GMT) will be broadcast live on the BBC Sport website and app. There will also be live text coverage and radio commentary of both legs.

  • Northern Ireland head to Croatia for their first leg on 25 October (16:30 BST), with the return leg at Windsor Park on 29 October (19:00 GMT). Both legs will be streamed live on the BBC Sport website and app, along with a live text commentary.

  • You can also follow live text commentary of the Republic of Ireland's trip to Georgia on 25 October (17:00 BST) and the return leg at Tallaght Stadium on 29 October (19:30 GMT) on the BBC Sport website and app.

How does qualification for Euro 2025 work?

Euro 2025 will feature 16 nations and, as hosts, Switzerland qualified automatically for the competition.

Reigning champions England were among eight teams who booked their place during the group phase.

The remaining seven spots are being contested by 28 nations.

They consist of the League A nations that failed to qualify automatically, the League B countries who did not finish bottom of their group, the League C group winners, and the three best sides from League C that finished second in their group.

Azerbaijan, who finished bottom of their League B group, were also entered into the play-offs as the next best placed side because group winners Switzerland were already assured of their spot.

For the first round of play-offs, the eight sides from League A were drawn against the eight nations from League C. The 12 teams from League B were drawn alongside other League B nations.

The 14 losers in the first round of play-off qualifying will be eliminated.

The 14 winners will advance into the second play-off round. The draw for the second round play-offs has already been made.

Euro 2025 second play-off round qualifying draw:

  • Azerbaijan or Portugal v Belarus or Czech Republic

  • Hungary or Scotland v Montenegro or Finland

  • Turkey or Ukraine v Greece or Belgium

  • Slovakia or Wales v Georgia or Republic of Ireland

  • Romania or Poland v Slovenia or Austria

  • Croatia or Northern Ireland v Albania or Norway

  • Bosnia & Herzegovina or Serbia v Luxembourg or Sweden

Ties to be played between 27 November and 3 December.

Which nations have already qualified?

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

England sealed qualification after a nervy goalless draw with Sweden in July

For qualification for Euro 2025, all countries were split into three leagues based on their performance in the 2023-24 Nations League.

After being split into leagues, nations were then put in groups of either three or four.

All League A nations were guaranteed to reach at least the play-offs. The top two sides in each group directly advanced into the Euro 2025 group stages.

England finished second in their League A group behind France, with the duo joining Spain, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Germany and Iceland in next year's tournament.

The eight League A sides and Switzerland are the only nations to have qualified so far.