Summary

Your views on the World Cup qualifying play-off draw

  1. Recap: World Cup play-off draw confirmedpublished at 13:59 GMT 20 November 2025

    That's your lot from today's World Cup play-off draw live page.

    Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland now know what they must do and who they must beat if they are to book themselves a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

    Here are the the top lines from today:

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    Get Involved - 'Wales and Northern Ireland have difficult ties'published at 13:57 GMT 20 November 2025

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    Wales & Northern Ireland have difficult ties. However I do believe Wales could beat Italy at home in a Play Off final. On current form the Republic fear no one and look to also have a decent chance of qualifying for the World Cup Finals.

    Graham, Broxburn

  3. 'I fancy Wales'published at 13:55 GMT 20 November 2025

    Robert Earnshaw
    Former Wales striker

    Bosnia and Herzegovina are a good team but they're beatable, we're playing home too.

    The big one is the potential of Italy or Northern Ireland, that's going to be huge. It's going to take something gigantic for us to qualify for the World Cup.

    If it is Italy, it'll take something big for us to qualify. They're probably the hardest team, I don't think anybody would've wanted Italy, but I still fancy us.

    Only two games between us and the World Cup, we have a great opportunity.

    Brennan Johnson of Wales sat on the floor smiling after victory against North MacedoniaImage source, Getty Images
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    Get Involved - 'You never know with Wales in a buoyant mood'published at 13:52 GMT 20 November 2025

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    Bellamy's Wales can certainly progress to the final play off but then it becomes more difficult, but you never know what will happen with Wales in such a buoyant mood.

    D Williams, Merthyr Tydfil

  5. 'At the Cardiff City Stadium they can beat anyone'published at 13:50 GMT 20 November 2025

    Danny Gabbidon
    Former Wales defender

    I think the key for Wales was getting the home draw, I feel that with that they won't be to bothered with who they got. They'll feel like at the Cardiff City Stadium they can beat anyone.

    Bosnia & Herzegovina is going to be a tough game, last time we ran into them was for the Euro qualifiers and I remember that being a tough game, they're a good side, an experienced team. That's going to be a tough game.

    You look at the final if we get through that, it's two really tough games with Northern Ireland and Italy. Always difficult playing against the home nations, they just bring a different vibe, different pressure a different feel.

    Italy are a quality outfit, who will be looking to qualify. It will be three World Cups they've missed out on if they don't qualify for this one, so they'll be desperate to get to the World Cup.

    I think we just wish the game was next month off the back of what we did on Tuesday. With the momentum we have, it's a bit weird to have to wait until March now.

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    Get Involved - 'Dream draw for Republic of Ireland'published at 13:46 GMT 20 November 2025

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    Dream draw for the Republic of Ireland. It would be great if England drew them in a group game in Boston

    Ian, Horsham

    Troy Parrott scores for Republic of Ireland against Hungary.Image source, Getty Images
  7. 'Italy are a team I would like to avoid'published at 13:43 GMT 20 November 2025

    Nia Jones
    Former Wales international on Match of the Day Wales

    Wales will still be on cloud nine after their recent 7-1 victory, so they’ll be confident they can comfortably beat Bosnia & Herzegovina at home, who are ranked 29 places below them.

    The final however would be a trickier affair, a home-nations derby will be tight and edgy, but the prospect of Wales v Italy brings back fond memories of that magical night in Cardiff back in 2002, where a certain Mr Bellamy scored to help Cymru earn a shock win vs the Azzurri.

    Italy however have missed out on the last two World Cups, so that desperation makes them a team I’d like to avoid.

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    Get Involved - 'With a bit of luck we have a chance'published at 13:41 GMT 20 November 2025

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    Tough draw for the GAWA, but with a bit of luck we have a chance. The Italians were eliminated at playoff stage last time too so who knows.

    William, Lisburn

  9. Wales 'can't complain'published at 13:38 GMT 20 November 2025

    Joe Ledley
    Former Wales midfielder

    Bosnia are the highest ranked team we could've played in the first round.

    Going into the final, if we do win, being home is a massive advantage whether it's Northern Ireland or Italy. Italy aren't the same team they used to be before, they lost to Norway 4-1.

    Two home ties, I don't think we can complain about that. Anything can happen at the Cardiff City Stadium.

  10. Wales previous World Cup campaignspublished at 13:35 GMT 20 November 2025

    Wales

    Gareth Bale celebrates with Neco WilliamsImage source, Getty Images

    Wales are bidding to qualifying for just their third World Cup finals with their appearance at the 2022 tournament in Qatar their first for 64 years.

    A draw against the USA was the highlight three years ago, with Gareth Bale's late penalty earning Rob Page's side a 1-1 before losses to Iran and England saw Wales go out at the group stage.

    They enjoyed more success back in 1958 as Jimmy Murphy's men reached the quarter-finals in Sweden.

    The great John Charles was on target in a 1-1 draw with 1954 finalists Hungary in their opening game and after further draws against Mexico and Sweden, a play-off game against Hungary was needed to decide who would progress.

    Ivor Allchurch and Terry Medwin scored the goals as Wales came from behind to win 2-1. There reward was a meeting with Brazil in the last eight with a 17-year-old Pele scoring the only goal of the game for the eventual winners.

    • 1958 - quarter-finals
    • 2022 - group stage
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    Get Involvedpublished at 13:32 GMT 20 November 2025

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    Let me correct your typo there, Simon (13:18). I believe you meant to ask, What’s the easiest way to get from Milan to Cardiff...

    Matt, Cardiff

  12. Republic of Ireland previous World Cup campaignspublished at 13:28 GMT 20 November 2025

    Republic of Ireland

    Ray Houghton scores for Republic of Ireland at 1994 World CupImage source, Getty Images

    That 2002 campaign was the Republic of Ireland's third appearance at a World Cup with the previous two coming in the 1990s.

    They made their debut in 1990 with Jack Charlton taking them to the quarter-finals despite not winning a single game in 90 minutes - they drew all three group games, including 1-1s against England and Netherlands, before beating Romania on penalties in the last 16.

    Hosts Italy ended their run at the quarter-final stage with Salvatore Schillaci scoring the only goal in Rome.

    Four years later and Charlton's men were back. This time in the US and again made it through the group, where Ray Houghton's goal saw them gain revenge over Italy.

    But goals from Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk condemned them to defeat by the Netherlands in the knockouts.

    • 1990 - quarter-finals
    • 1994 - last 16
    • 2002 - last 16
  13. A first World Cup since 2002?published at 13:25 GMT 20 November 2025

    Republic of Ireland

    Robbie KeaneImage source, Getty Images

    You have to go back 23 years for the last time the Republic of Ireland made it to the World Cup - and that was so dramatic they've made a film about it...

    Well, that was the build-up and after Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy's bust up, the Boys in Green actually put in a strong showing to reach the last 16 in Japan and South Korea.

    They went undefeated in the group, drawing 1-1 with Cameroon and Germany - the latter after a 92nd-minute Robbie Keane strike - before a 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia to qualify.

    Spain were their opponents in the first knockout round and Keane's last-minute penalty took it to extra-time. But spot kicks ultimately proved their downfall as they lost 3-2 in the shootout.

    They are now just two games from what could be another memorable summer.

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    Get Involvedpublished at 13:22 GMT 20 November 2025

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    For once it's nice to be sitting on the sidelines watching all the drama unfold. Well done Scotland.

    Ken Mavor, Aberdeen

  15. Northern Ireland's previous World Cup campaignspublished at 13:20 GMT 20 November 2025

    Northern Ireland

    Billy Hamilton celebrates scoring for Northern Ireland against Austria at 1982 World CupImage source, Getty Images

    Northern Ireland will hope to make their fourth World Cup finals appearance in 2026 - 40 years since their last.

    They debuted at the tournament in 1958 with Peter Doherty's side making it to the quarter-finals after progressing from a group featuring West Germany, Argentina and Czechoslovakia.

    Wilbur Cush scored the goal in a 1-0 win over the latter with a play-off against the same opponent needed to decide who would go through.

    Northern Ireland triumphed again, this time 2-1 after extra time, thanks to two goals from Peter McParland before a 4-0 loss to France in the last eight.

    They made it back to the World Cup in 1982 with Gerry Armstrong's goal clinching an historic 1-0 over hosts Spain to book their place in the second round. But France did for them again, with Michel Platini leading France to a 4-1 win to deny Billy Bingham's side a semi-final place.

    Bingham took Northern Ireland into the 1986 World Cup as well but a disappointing campaign in Mexico - a draw with Algeria and losses to Spain and Brazil - resulted in an early exit.

    • 1958 - quarter-finals
    • 1982 - second round
    • 1986 - group stage
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    Get Involvedpublished at 13:18 GMT 20 November 2025

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    What’s the easiest way to get from Milan to Sarajevo? Asking for the GAWA.

    Simon L, Belfast

  17. Could John Herdman be an answer for Jamaica?published at 13:17 GMT 20 November 2025

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport Chief Football News Reporter

    It has been a tumultuous couple of days for football in Jamaica.

    The country is still coming to terms with the failure to beat tiny Curacao in their final qualification game, which was followed immediately by the resignation of coach Steve McClaren.

    Now the search is on for someone to come in and take charge for the play-offs in March.

    Jamaica will face a semi-final against New Caledonia and would then have to win a final against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

    With the players they have, it is possible - but by no means straightforward.

    Someone has suggested to me John Herdman, former Canada coach and also Toronto in Major League Soccer, might be a viable candidate.

    Herdman has spoken to the JFF on a number of occasions in the past and has plenty of experience of CONCACAF football and politics.

  18. Postpublished at 13:15 GMT 20 November 2025

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales

    A play-off path laden with storylines for Wales.

    First, a semi-final at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina, where they clinched qualification for Euro 2016, their first major tournament for 58 years.

    Then there could be a potential final at home to Italy, who lost on their last visit to Cardiff in 2002 with current Wales head coach Craig Bellamy scoring the winner.

    Gennaro Gattuso, now Italy's boss, came on as a substitute for the Azzurri in that 2-1 defeat at what was then known as the Millennium Stadium.

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    Get Involvedpublished at 13:13 GMT 20 November 2025

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    The big decision for Wales, if they reach the play off final, will be whether to stick with the Cardiff City Stadium cauldron or go for a bigger crowd at the Principality where they have previously beaten Italy. My gut feeling is the players would prefer the smaller venue.

    Wyre Davies, Cardiff

  20. 'Wales could not have asked for more'published at 13:09 GMT 20 November 2025

    Iwan Roberts
    Former Wales striker

    So it's Bosnia-Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium on 26 March next year, a team we've played four times. We've never beaten them in those four games.

    We haven't scored in three of the four. The one game that stands out in my mind was 10 October, 2015, in Bosnia when we lost 2-0.

    But it was a great night because we qualified for the European Championships in France in 2016.

    They finished second in their group behind Austria. So they had 17 points from their eight games. Defensively, they were solid. They only conceded seven in their eight games, and they didn't lose away from home winning eight points from their four games.

    So it will be a tough challenge for us, but we are the favourites.

    And if we beat Bosnia, we now know that we will face either Italy or Northern Ireland in the final, in the same stadium.

    So that's a massive bonus for us. Possibly two home games in the play-offs, semi-final and in the final, we could not have asked for more.

    Craig Bellamy gives a thumbs up from the sideline suring Wales match against North MacedoniaImage source, Getty Images