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Ireland to face Mexico, South Africa and South Korea if they qualify for 2026 World Cup

The full draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The full draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Republic of Ireland will face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea if they qualify via the play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Heimir Halgrimmsson's side will take on Czech Republic in the World Cup play-off semi-finals in March, with Denmark or North Macedonia awaiting in the final five days later.

Should they negotiate those two games, the Boys in Green will take their place in Group A of the 48-team tournament.

Most teams will not learn their venues until Saturday, but as Group A contains one of the three hosts, the fixtures are already set.

First up would be a date with South Korea in in Guadalajara on Thursday, 11 June. A week later they will travel to Atlanta to take on South Africa before concluding the group against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on Wednesday, 24 June.

It would mark the second time Ireland and Mexico would cross paths in the World Cup, with John Aldridge finding the back of the net in a 2-1 defeat in the 1994 group stages.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson believes that it's a group that Ireland could qualify from, should they secure a place at the World Cup.

Reacting to the draw, he said: "I think it's a quite equal group in a way that it's not like a Brazil or an Argentina that normally are favourites in the group. I think it was good to be in the host nation group, whether it was Canada, US or Mexico.

"I know Mexico and playing in Mexico will always be a challenging match. But then again, they have very demanding fans in Mexico. Sometimes they turn on their team if it's not going well.

"It's a beatable group if we get ourselves in it. It's a group that we would fancy qualifying from, but we know we need to focus on what's ahead and keeping our eye and focus on the next opponent, which is Czech Republic."

England have been drawn against Croatia, Ghana and Panama in Group L for next summer's World Cup finals in North America.

Scotland have been drawn against five-times world champions Brazil and 2022 semi-finalists Morocco, as well as Haiti, in Group C.

The Republic of Ireland will be in Group A alongside co-hosts Mexico, South Korea and South Africa if they can come through the March play-offs.

Wales or Northern Ireland will head to Group B if they emerge victorious in the play-offs, alongside co-hosts Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.

The United States is in Group D along with Australia, Paraguay and a yet-to-be determined European play-off team (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo).

Team USA will play Paraguay on 12 June in Los Angeles, Australia on 19 June (Seattle) and the third group member on 25 June back in Los Angeles.

The top two finishers from each group, along with the eight best third-place teams, will advance to the final 32 for the knockout stage.

The final will take place on 19 July at MetLife Stadium outside New York City.

Matches are taking place in16 cities across North America, including two in Canada (Toronto, Vancouver) and three in Mexico (Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara).

More to follow

GROUP A

A1 Mexico

A2 South Africa

A3 South Korea

A4 Winner Play-off D (possibly Republic of Ireland)

GROUP B

B1 Canada

B2 Winner Play-off A (possibly Wales or Northern Ireland)

B3 Qatar

B4 Switzerland

GROUP C

C1 Brazil

C2 Morocco

C3 Haiti

C4 Scotland

GROUP D

D1 United States

D2 Paraguay

D3 Australia

D4 Winner Play-off C

GROUP E

E1 Germany

E2 Curacao

E3 Ivory Coast

E4 Ecuador

GROUP F

F1 Netherlands

F2 Japan

F3 Winner Play-off B

F4 Tunisia

GROUP G

G1 Belgium

G2 Egypt

G3 Iran

G4 New Zealand

GROUP H

H1 Spain

H2 Cape Verde

H3 Saudi Arabia

H4 Uruguay

GROUP I

I1 France

I2 Senegal

I3 Winner Play-off 2

I4 Norway

GROUP J

J1 Argentina

J2 Algeria

J3 Austria

J4 Jordan

GROUP K

K1 Portugal

K2 Winner play-off 1

K3 Uzbekistan

K4 Colombia

GROUP L

L1 England

L2 Croatia

L3 Ghana

L4 Panama

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