sports
NI and Republic of Ireland learn World Cup route
Key takeaways
- Michael Mc Ardle's side will be underdogs against Portugal, who beat NI twice in Euro 2025 qualifying.
- If they can win that game, then either Iceland or Croatia await in the second round of play-offs.
- Given their world ranking, even if Northern Ireland could stun two of Europe's biggest sides they could still face an additional inter-continental play-off to make it to the finals.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Michael Mc Ardle's side will be underdogs against Portugal, who beat NI twice in Euro 2025 qualifying.
If they can win that game, then either Iceland or Croatia await in the second round of play-offs.
Given their world ranking, even if Northern Ireland could stun two of Europe's biggest sides they could still face an additional inter-continental play-off to make it to the finals.
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