Ireland drawn with Portugal or Denmark, Hungary and Armenia for 2026 World Cup

Republic of Ireland have been placed in a group with Hungary, Armenia and the winners of the Portugal/Denmark Nations League quarter-final as the draw for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers was made in Zurich this morning.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side had known of the likelihood they would be drawn in a four-team group due to their involvement in March’s Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Bulgaria.

Placed in Pot 3, Ireland are not yet certain as to the identity of their top seeded opponents, which will hinge on the outcome of March’s two-legged Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark. Ireland will be facing the winners of that tie in Group F.

Ireland were also drawn alongside second seeds Hungary, who are seeking to reach a first World Cup since 1986. They have, however, reached the last three European Championships, exiting in the group phase in the summer despite scoring a late winner against Scotland.

It will be Ireland’s first competitive meeting against Hungary since the Italia 90 qualification campaign, when a 2-0 win at Lansdowne Road set the hosts on the road to a first ever World Cup appearance.

The pair have met twice in friendlies in the current decade, with a goalless draw in Budapest in 2021 before Ireland’s rather fortuitious 2-1 victory in the Aviva Stadium last June, Troy Parrott nabbing an unlikely win with an injury-time goal.

Fourth seeds in Group F are Armenia, against whom Ireland were drawn in the successful Euro 2012 qualification campaign.

The Armenians are another side bound for March’s promotion/relegation playoff after finishing second behind North Macedonia in their League C group, during which they suffered a shock home defeat to the Faroe Islands.

It will be Ireland’s first four-team qualifier group since Euro 92, with games played in windows in September, October and November.

Meanwhile Northern Ireland will face either Germany or Italy – each four-time World Cup winners – plus Slovakia and Luxembourg as they seek a first qualification since 1986.

Thomas Tuchel’s England have been drawn against Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra in qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Scotland are in a four-team group, and will face whichever team loses between Portugal and Denmark, along with Greece and Belarus.

Steve Clarke’s men also face Greece in a Nations League promotion-relegation play-off in March.

Wales are in a group featuring Belgium, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan and Liechtenstein as they aim to qualify for a second successive World Cup.

Wales met Belgium in qualifying for the last World Cup, and even more recently in the 2022 Nations League.

They famously beat Belgium 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016, but have not won any of the subsequent four meetings.

Draw in full:

Group A: Germany/Italy (winner), Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Portugal/Denmark (loser), Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group D: France/Croatia (winner), Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Spain/Netherlands (winner), Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Portugal/Denmark (winner), Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.

Group G: Spain/Netherlands (loser), Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

Group H: Austria, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino.

Group I: Germany/Italy (loser), Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

Group J: Belgium, Wales, North Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein.

Group K: England, Serbia, Albania, Latvia, Andorra.

Group L: France/Croatia (loser), Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar.