What is Ireland’s route to the men’s World Cup? UEFA recommend European structure for qualifiers for 2026 World Cup

Argentian celebrating their win at the 2022 World Cup

Argentian celebrating their win at the 2022 World Cup Credit: FIFA / Qatar Media

The Women’s World Cup begins next month with the Republic of Ireland represented by the squad announced today (see here).

If the men’s team are to match the Girls in Green and qualify for their next World Cup, here is the format for their qualifiers that UEFA is recommending to FIFA for qualification of the 16 European teams to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in US, Mexico and Canada.

The qualification path to the World Cup will as usual have a group stage and play-off element.

The group stage will have 12 groups of four or five teams playing home and away matches between March and November 2025.

The 12 group winners will qualify automatically for the tournament, with the four remaining places being allotted through a play-off route.

The 12 group runners-ups will play in the March 2026 play-offs, along with the best-ranked four group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that have not finished their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.

The 16 teams entering the play-offs will be drawn into four play-off paths of four teams each.

The play-off matches will be played in single-leg semi-finals followed by single-leg finals within the same international match window.

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile