World Cup playoff draw: Wales face Bosnia, Northern Ireland head to Italy, Ireland go to Prague

Wales and Northern Ireland set their sights on World Cup glory as they face challenging playoff semi-finals.

The path to the 2026 World Cup is about to get a lot more interesting for Welsh football fans. The Dragons, led by Craig Bellamy, will host Bosnia and Herzegovina in a crucial home tie that could prove to be a turning point in their qualifying campaign. If Wales can overcome the daunting task of beating the Bosnians, they'll progress to the semi-finals against Northern Ireland, who have been handed a tough ticket to Italy.

The Italians, meanwhile, are struggling with form but will be favorites to win against Northern Ireland. The Green and White Army's journey to the World Cup finals is far from guaranteed, but a remarkable turnaround in recent weeks suggests they can still cause an upset.

In other corners of Europe, Ireland are quietly confident about their chances of reaching the finals for the first time since 2002. Their semi-final tie against Czech Republic takes place in Prague, where the Irish will look to repeat their winning form from previous matches. If they succeed, a home final against Denmark or North Macedonia could be on the cards.

The European playoff draw has also set up some enticing match-ups. Ukraine will host Sweden after finishing top of their qualifying group, while Poland and Albania will battle it out in a semi-final that promises to be a high-stakes affair.

Non-Uefa nations are also vying for World Cup spots through the inter-confederation playoffs. Jamaica, looking to make history by reaching the finals for the first time since 1998, faces New Caledonia in their semi-final tie. The winner will then face off against top-seeded Democratic Republic of Congo in a final that promises to be a clash of titans.

In another pathway, Bolivia and Suriname are set to do battle for a spot against Iraq in the finals. The inter-confederation ties take place in Mexico, adding an extra layer of excitement to the playoff schedule.

Yaaas Wales you got this! Bellamy's team is gonna crush Bosnia and get that semi-final spot. I'm so hyped for Northern Ireland too, they've been on a roll lately . And don't count out the Czechs just yet, Ireland's got this! Czechs might be in for an upset

I think its gonna be interesting to watch how these countries progress in the World Cup playoff semis . Wales and Northern Ireland both have tough matches ahead of them but I believe its possible for them to pull off an upset. Those Irish fans are getting pretty hyped about their chances, and it'd be awesome if they can make a deep run in the tournament! On the other hand, those non-UEFA nations like Jamaica and Bolivia have been making some great strides and I'm curious to see how they'll fare against the big boys . It's gonna be a wild ride, so here's to all the teams hoping for a spot in the finals !

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OMG, I'm so hyped for these playoff semi-finals! It's gonna be a wild ride with Wales and Northern Ireland going head-to-head, and I'm rooting for the Dragons to take it all the way! The Irish are looking solid too, and if they can beat the Czechs, that home final would be epic! I love how non-UEFA nations are getting a chance to shine too, like Jamaica making history in the inter-confederation playoffs. Fingers crossed for them against DRC!

I was saying that Wales have been on fire lately , I remember when they played Scotland last month and won 2-1, it was a total game changer for them! But this Bosnia tie is gonna be tough, I mean who wants to travel all the way back from Bosnia? Northern Ireland's got some good players too though, their team's been looking solid. And what about Italy, they're struggling but if they can get past Northern Ireland... oh wait, I forgot how much I was saying about Wales and now it's about Northern Ireland! Anyway, Jamaica's making history trying to reach the finals for the first time since 1998, that's so cool! The playoff draw has been super interesting so far.

just had to share some positivity about these nations trying to make it to the World Cup! i mean, we all know how tough the competition is gonna be but wales and northern ireland's spirit should get them far . northern ireland's recent turnaround in form could be just what they need to pull off a major upset . and let's not forget about wales - bosnia is gonna be a tough one but if bellamy's lads can get it done, watch out world cup! . all these teams have shown heart and determination, that's what matters most ️.

omg, did u see this? the playoffs r going 2 b SO INTENSE!!! i mean, who wouldn't wanna watch Wales vs bosnia or ireland vs czech rep? vs is already giving me chills!!! and can we talk about how good it is that new caledonia is makin history for jamaica?!

OMG did you know that there's this new cafe near my place that has the best vegan croissants ever?! I swear, it's like they're made with love or something! I had them for breakfast yesterday and now I'm craving them again . Anyway, back to the World Cup... Northern Ireland better bring their A-game if they wanna take on Italy, but you know what? I think Bosnia might be a dark horse in this tournament . Wales is gonna smash it though! But seriously, have you tried that new plant-based milk at my cafe? It's game-changing

I'm low-key excited about these playoffs . Wales' home tie against Bosnia is gonna be a nail-biter! They'll need to bring their A-game and capitalize on any mistakes from the Bosnians . Northern Ireland's form has been inconsistent, but they've got that Irish spark . If they can get past Italy, who knows? Czech Republic in Prague sounds like a solid game too... might be an upset waiting to happen

The European playoff draw is looking juicy! Ukraine vs Sweden could be a barnburner, and Poland vs Albania is always a intense one . Non-Uefa nations are giving it their all too - Jamaica's got a shot at history, and Bolivia vs Suriname could lead to an epic final . Bring on the drama and excitement of the playoffs!

Ugh, I don't get why they're making it so complicated . First, you gotta qualify through some group stages, then playoffs against other teams... by the time you make it to the World Cup finals, you've already played like 5 or 6 games, right? And what's up with all these random ties and matchups? It feels like they're just throwing a bunch of teams together to see who can win. I mean, come on, Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Northern Ireland in a semi-final? That's gonna be a tough one