For World Cup 2026, England and Scotland are already sorted, the group draw’s done; In this way, they can settle down and get on with the proper planning. They have time to study their opponents inside out, book training camps and drill the tactics they will need. England pulled a decent enough group with Croatia, Panama and Ghana, nothing too scary on paper. Scotland, though, have landed a brutal one: Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.
The picture’s completely different for Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. They’re still staring down the barrel of the play-offs in March. Wales take on Bosnia, Northern Ireland have the nightmare journey to Italy, and Ireland kick off away to the Czech Republic. Only if Ireland wins twice, will they even get grouped with Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.
World Cup 2026
The summer of 2026 will see the largest World Cup, including 48 teams from 11 June through to 19 July, with games taking place all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. England and Scotland have already qualified and locked in their spots. For Wales, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, things are a bit more tense; they’ve just learned who they’ll play in the European play-offs.
A return to the men’s World Cup 2026 for the first time in 27 years means next year’s finals has rightly captured the imagination of a whole country, many of whom will be looking to travel to support their team, wherever Steve Clarke’s side are drawn to play.
For the others, it all hangs on those March evenings. As Wales prepare to take on Bosnia and Northern Ireland gear up to face Italy, the Republic of Ireland are scheduled to meet Czechia in March in their own semi-final play-off match. A victory there would see them advance to face either Denmark or North Macedonia to secure their spot at the 2026 World Cup, reports the Mirror.
England’s Group: Tough But Within Reach
England have ended up in Group L with Croatia, Panama and Ghana. They get things underway against Croatia on 17 June 2026.
Croatia turned out to be the toughest draw England could have got from pot two. Of course, they’re the same team that knocked them out in the 2018 semi-final in Russia, leaving a lot of sore hearts back home.
Thomas Tuchel is bound to push for a fast start, given the talent he’s working with these days. Once that Croatia game’s out of the way, the fixtures against Panama and Ghana should feel a good bit more manageable on paper.
Panama brings back memories of 2018, when England put six past them without reply in the groups. Ghana, though, are an unknown quantity – the two countries have never played a competitive match before.
The group stage wraps up on 27 June with Panama again, this time under the lights at New York New Jersey Stadium, kicking off at 10pm back home. If they pick up the wins most people expect, England will be comfortably into the knockouts.
Can Scotland Surpass Expectations?
Scotland are back at the men’s World Cup 2026 for the first time in 28 years, and they open against Haiti in Group C on Saturday, 13 June. That’s the one they really have to win – bag the three points early because the next two games look a whole lot harder. The rest of the group is filled by Brazil and Morocco. Funny enough, way back in 1998 France, Scotland shared their opening group with exactly the same pair. Steve Clarke’s lads have battled hard just to reach this stage, full of fight and togetherness.
Play-Off Drama: Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
It’s going to be a hard road ahead for Wales and Northern Ireland. Only one can make it to World Cup 2026.
At best, just one more from Wales, Northern Ireland, or the Republic of Ireland will make it over to North America next summer to join England and Scotland. The three of them are all lumped into the same European play-off path in March, where four extra spots from the continent are up for grabs.
The catch is they’re in direct competition – only the winner of that path gets through to World Cup 2026. So while two could theoretically still qualify from other routes, in reality, it’s one ticket between the three of them.
Wales’ Path
Wales have Bosnia and Herzegovina standing in their way for the play-off semi-final. If they win, they’ll host the final too – either against Italy or, in a twist of fate, Northern Ireland. If they overcome these opponents, they will be into Group B with Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.
Looking at it, that’s about as gentle a group as they could have asked for. The matches, should they qualify, line up like this: Canada in Toronto on 12 June, Switzerland in Los Angeles on 18 June, then Qatar in Seattle on 24 June – everyone starting at 8 pm UK time.
Northern Ireland’s Huge Ask
Northern Ireland has been handed the difficult task of travelling to Italy for their play-off semi-final.
Four-time World Cup winners Italy are the highest-ranked nation in the play-offs. If Northern Ireland defeat Italy, they would subsequently face Wales or Bosnia away in the final. It is a considerable challenge, yet stranger things have happened. It’s a tall order, but stranger things have happened.
UK Home Nations
Whatever happens in March, World Cup 2026 promises plenty of British and Irish flavour. England have a group they can navigate and will target at least the semi-finals with the squad they’ve got. Scotland face a brutal draw on paper, but their recent form and sheer togetherness could make them everyone’s second favourite.
For Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, the play-offs are the last hurdle. Clear it and they’ll head to North America dreaming of upsets.
