Ireland drawn in group with Hungary, Armenia and Portugal or Denmark for World Cup qualifiers

The Republic of Ireland have been drawn into Group F for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Heimir Hallgrimsson’s team will face the winners of the Nations League quarter-final between Portugal and Denmark, along with Hungary and Armenia.

Ireland will also face a Nations League promotion-relegation play-off tie in March against Bulgaria.

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.

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

The German officially takes over as head coach on January 1st and will take heart from the fact England have never lost to any of the teams they will face on the road to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Scotland are in a four-team group, and will face whichever team loses the Nations League quarter-final tie 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.

Additional reporting PA

Sourse: breakingnews.ie