Soccer

Ireland to open World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Hungary

Ireland drawn alongside Portugal or Denmark, Hungary and Armenia for next year’s World Cup 2026 qualifiers

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson discussing the World Cup draw at a media briefing in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson discussing the World Cup draw at a media briefing in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Gordon Manning
Fri Dec 13 2024 - 13:03

The path Ireland must travel if they are to qualify for the 2026 World Cup is now clearer if not quite yet clear.

But should the Heimir Hallgrímsson reign truly usher in a new era then evidently its success or failure will rise or fall on how Ireland fare against some old familiar foes – Portugal or Denmark, Hungary and Armenia.

In terms of glamour ties Group F doesn’t exactly have va-va-voom, but the absence of a France or Spain or England make it all the more appealing for an Ireland team crying out for a modicum of success.

Given some of the alternative opponents that might have come out of the pots, Ireland’s task as third seeds could have been more onerous. Not that their lot is easy – Armenia beat Ireland just two years ago.

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But after watching from Dublin as Friday morning’s draw unfolded in Zurich, Hallgrímsson didn’t have to dress up the outcome. Given Stephen Kenny’s puzzle for Euro 2024 qualification included France and Netherlands, you’d take the questions that will be asked by Portugal/Denmark and Hungary.

“Neutral. Could have been worse, could have better,” he said. “It’s a group where definitely the teams will take points from each other. Looking at it I don’t think there will be a runaway winner which makes it more positive to qualify, which is good for us.”

All group winners will automatically qualify for the 2026 tournament in USA, Canada and Mexico, with the second placed teams advancing to the play-offs.

And with Ireland plucked out in a four-team group it means their bid to play at the World Cup will be decided within just a 10-week window – September to November. The build-up to Christmas next year could last longer than Ireland’s World Cup aspirations.

Ireland’s roadmap ahead will see them play Bulgaria home and away in a Nations League playoff next March, when they will also learn if Portugal or Denmark are to be the top seeds in Group F.

Hallgrímsson can now use the June window for friendlies.

“The most important thing for us was to be in a group of four teams playing this September-October-November window. It comes quick. It finishes in three months so hopefully everybody will be fit and ready.”

Since 2021 Ireland have played Portugal on three occasions – with two defeats and one draw. The most recent fixture was a friendly in June of this year which Portugal won 3-0.

Ireland and Denmark have met six times since 2017 – with the sides playing out five draws, while the Danes also chalked up a 5-1 victory in Dublin in a World Cup play-off in November 2017.

The boys in green played Hungary in friendlies in 2021 (0-0, Budapest) and June of this year (2-1, Dublin).

Armenia beat Kenny’s Ireland 1-0 in a Nations League clash in Yerevan in June 2022. Ireland won the Dublin fixture 3-2 three months later.

Hallgrímsson reckons one of the keys to qualification rests on maxing out against Armenia this time around. “If we are going to qualify we are going to need six points against Armenia,” he said.

So here we are, plotting a possible route to a World Cup. Perhaps there is a way out of this group for Ireland. On this occasion it certainly doesn’t feel like an objective that is beyond the team’s reach before a ball has even been kicked. Dream big? Why not, it’s Christmas.

Fixture Schedule – Fifa World Cup 2026 qualifying

September 6th: Ireland v Hungary, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm

September 9th: Armenia v Ireland, TBC, 5pm (Irish Time)

October 11th: Portugal/Denmark v Ireland, TBC, 7.45pm (Irish Time)

October 14th: Ireland v Armenia, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm

November 13th: Ireland v Portugal or Denmark, Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm November 16th: Hungary v Ireland, TBC, 2pm (Irish Time)

The groups on display during the draw for the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers. Photograph: Getty Images
The groups on display during the draw for the 2026 World Cup European qualifiers. Photograph: Getty Images
World Cup Qualifying Draw

Group A: Winner of Germany v Italy, Slovakia, Northern Ireland, Luxembourg.

Group B: Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Kosovo.

Group C: Loser of Portugal v Denmark, Greece, Scotland, Belarus.

Group D: Winner of France v Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, Azerbaijan.

Group E: Winner of Spain v Netherlands, Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria.

Group F: Winner of Portugal v Denmark, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Armenia.

Group G: Loser of Spain v Netherlands, Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Malta.

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

Group I: Loser of Germany v Italy, Norway, Israel, Estonia, Moldova.

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

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

Group L: Loser of France v Croatia, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar

Qualifiers will be played between March and November 2025.

How many teams qualify?

Direct qualification for the tournament will go to the 12 group winners.

The 12 group runners-up and the four highest-ranked ranked group winners from the 2024/25 Nations League that didn’t win or come second in their European qualifiers group go to the playoffs, from which four teams will qualify for the World Cup.

For the playoffs the 16 teams will be drawn to make four groups of four. Each group will have a semi-final and final, the four final winners earning a spot at the World Cup.

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning is a sports journalist, specialising in Gaelic games, with The Irish Times