With four spots still up for grabs in the UEFA section, we’re taking a look at the World Cup 2026 qualification odds for each pathway.
England and Scotland have already booked a trip to this summer’s tournament in Canada , Mexico and the United States , but what are the chances of the Republic of Ireland , Wales or Northern Ireland joining them?
Path A
Path A
Northern Ireland are rated 16/1 outsiders to advance from this section ahead of Thursday’s semi-final clash with Italy in Bergamo . The Azzurri are four-time World Cup winners and 4/6 favourites to make it through, although they did fail to qualify for the last two finals, losing to North Macedonia in the play-offs four years ago.
Norn Iron are bidding to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986, but they can take heart from their performances in qualifying Group A, when they shone in a win over Slovakia and pushed Germany close. Midfielder Ali McCann said, “I think if you look at the campaign as a whole, it was a positive one. The Slovakia game at home, we were brilliant. The two games against Germany , we played really well against a top-quality side. We just weren’t clinical enough in those moments.
“If you look through the games, you can pick out loads of positives and then hopefully we can apply that on Thursday to get something from the game.” The winners of this tie will face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina , who are 7/4 and 11/2 to qualify ahead of Thursday’s Cardiff encounter.
Craig Bellamy’s Dragons put up a spirited effort in Group J, posting five wins and a draw from eight fixtures and earning plenty of plaudits for their positive attitude during 4-2 and 4-3 losses to Belgium . Wales do have the benefit of experience from a successful play-offs campaign four years ago, when edging out Austria and Ukraine to reach Qatar , and will retain home advantage if winning their semi.
Path B
Path B
This is rated the most wide-open section, with Poland heading the betting on 7/4 ahead of hosting 6/1 outsiders Albania .
Robert Lewandowski and Co will face an away trip if advancing, with potential opponents Ukraine and Sweden both priced at 9/4 prior to meeting on neutral territory in Valencia .
Path C
Path C
Turkey have not reached a World Cup since finishing third in 2002, but they are 10/11 favourites to put that right ahead of entertaining 8/1 underdogs Romania in Istanbul .
The winners of that tie must then visit Slovakia or Kosovo , who are 2/1 and 6/1 respectively, prior to doing battle in Bratislava .
Path D
Path D
Republic of Ireland have also been absent from the finals since 2002, marking their third appearance in four renewals and are 3/1 in the World Cup 2026 qualification odds prior to visiting the Czech Republic , who are 5/2 for this section.
Whoever makes it through that semi will host either Denmark or North Macedonia , who are 5/6 and 12/1, respectively, prior to Thursday’s Copenhagen clash. Getting past a Czech side ranked 16 places higher on their own soil will not be easy, but the Boys in Green received a boost when Icelandic boss Heimir Hallgrimsson extended his contract last week.
Three straight wins over Armenia , Portugal and Hungary helped Ireland finish second in Group F, and the prize for progressing would be to feature in a pool alongside Mexico , South Africa and South Korea this summer. “It’s a beatable group, and we would fancy qualifying from the group,” commented Hallgrimsson . “But we need to keep our eye and focus on the next opponent, which is the Czech Republic .”
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