Who could NI face in World Cup play-offs?

Northern Ireland will be unseeded for their play-off semi-final and could face the likes of Portugal, Switzerland, Scotland or Wales [Getty Images] The wait is almost over for Northern Ireland to discover their 2027 Women's World Cup play-off semi-final opponents. Michael McArdle's side finished third in Group B2, winning two of their six games - both against Malta - to secure a play-off spot and retain their place in League B. It will be a tough ask for NI to reach their first ever World Cup as they will be unseeded for both the two-legged semi-final and two-legged final of the play-offs. Even if they progress through those four games, it may not be enough as the lowest-ranked of the eight play-off winners in Europe will go into the inter-confederation play-offs early next year and - should they get that far - there is a good chance that would be NI. Northern Ireland have relished the underdog tag before and did defy the odds in the play-offs to reach Euro 2022, so McArdle's young side will dream they can replicate that feat. BBC Sport NI looks at who they could face in their semi-final ahead of Thursday's draw. Slovenia Slovenia beat Republic of Ireland 4-0 in the Nations League last year [Getty Images] World ranking: 38th World Cup qualifying group: Fourth in Group A4 Last World Cup: Never qualified Slovenia, like Northern Ireland, have never played at a World Cup and while they are the lowest ranked side that McArdle's team could face, they would represent a tricky play-off opponent. Sasa Kolman's side won one of their six Group A4 games as they finished fourth and suffered relegation back to League B. However, they were in a difficult group with Austria, who they beat 1-0 to start their campaign, as well as Norway and Germany. Slovenia thrashed an off-colour Republic of Ireland 4-0 in a Nations League game in February 2025, demonstrating that they can punish teams when they're in the mood. Poland Pajor scored against Northern Ireland in a 4-0 win at Seaview last year [Getty Images] World ranking: 29th World Cup qualifying group: Fourth in Group A2 Last World Cup: Never qualified Northern Ireland need little introduction to Poland after facing them in last year's Nations League. Under then boss Tanya Oxtoby, NI lost 2-0 in Gdansk and then 4-0 at Seaview, with Poland showing a real clinical edge in that second game in north Belfast. They possess one of the world's best strikers in Barcelona's Ewa Pajor, who has 71 goals in 110 games for her country. Nina Patalon's side endured a difficult qualification campaign as they finished bottom of Group A2 and without a win from their six games. They picked up a point against the Netherlands, but lost twice against Republic of Ireland as they were relegated back to League B. Poland, who are aiming to reach their first World Cup, score a lot of goals but also concede a lot too, which will give NI some encouragement. Serbia Serbia are aiming to qualify for a first World Cup [Getty Images] World ranking: 35th World Cup qualifying group: Fourth in Group A1 Last World Cup: Never qualified Like Poland, Serbia picked up just a point from their six Group A1 games as they finished fourth and were relegated back down to League B. Lidija Stojkanovic's side drew with Sweden but were thrashed by Denmark and Italy. They are aiming to reach their first-ever major tournament and while they may not be at the level required to compete in League A, they will still be a tough test for a young NI side that are unable to get out of League B. However, given who else they could be paired with, they may represent a kinder play-off opponent for NI. Ukraine Ukraine lost all six of their Group A3 games and were relegated back to League B [Getty Images] World ranking: 34th World Cup qualifying group: Fourth in Group A3 Last World Cup: Never qualified Ukraine endured a really tough Group A3 campaign, losing all six games, scoring just twice and conceding 17 times as they finished fourth and were relegated to League B. As is the case with many of NI's potential play-off opponents, they were in a tough group, with World Cup holders Spain, back-to-back Euro winners England and Iceland. If NI were pitted against Ukraine, Iya Andrushchak's side would no doubt like to gain revenge for the Euro 2022 play-off in which Kenny Shiels' side produced a thumping 4-1 aggregate victory to reach a first major tournament. Switzerland Switzerland won both their Group B2 meetings with Northern Ireland [Getty Images] World ranking: 26th World Cup qualifying group: First in Group B2 Last World Cup: 2023 If Northern Ireland draw Switzerland, they will have had the perfect warm-up for the crunch play-off given the two sides faced off twice after being paired in the same qualifying group. The Swiss won 2-0 in the opening group game and rounded off their unbeaten campaign with a 2-1 win against NI at Mourneview Park. Rafel Navarro's side won five of their six games to top the group and win promotion back to League A. They played a second-string side against NI in Lurgan and still eased to victory and boast a host of experienced players as well as young stars such as Barcelona's Sydney Schertenleib. They reached the World Cup in 2015 and again in 2023, exiting the round of 16 on both occasions and will fancy their chances of reaching a third World Cup in Brazil even through the convoluted play-off system. Portugal Portugal beat Northern Ireland 4-0 in a Euro 2025 qualifier [Getty Images] World ranking: 22nd World Cup qualifying group: First in Group B3 Last World Cup: 2023 Portugal are the highest ranked side Northern Ireland can face and they also have recent history as the two sides met in Euro 2025 qualifying. Portugal won 4-0 in Leiria and then edged past NI 2-1 in Mourneview in those games in 2024. Francisco Neto's side finished top of Group B3 to return to League A, winning five of their six games and scoring 17 goals. They have a really experienced squad and can call upon the likes of fit-again Barca forward Kika Nazareth, who scored six goals in qualifying. A team that NI will really be hoping to avoid given their pedigree and the fact they regularly qualify for major tournaments. Scotland Scottish captain Weir was clinical in the group phase of qualifying as she scored 10 goals [Getty Images] World ranking: 25th World Cup qualifying group: First in Group B4 Last World Cup: 2019 It would be fitting if Northern Ireland were paired with Scotland for their play-off semi-final given boss McArdle's roots and his previous work in their association. The 46-year-old Glaswegian, who was appointed as Tanya Oxtoby's permanent successor in March, is still based in Scotland after taking on his first full-time senior management role with NI. He served as the head of women's elite football for the SFA and led the Scotland Under-23s team and the senior side for a four-game interim spell last year before Melissa Andreatta was appointed. Under the Australian Andreatta, the Scots finished top of Group B4, winning four of their six games and drawing the other two to earn promotion to League A. Scotland are aiming to reach a second World Cup after featuring at the 2019 tournament and were prolific in the group phase, scoring 24 goals as they thrashed Israel and Luxembourg twice. Captain Caroline Weir, who has swapped Real Madrid for Lyon, is their obvious threat as she found the net 10 times in six games, but they have plenty of other experienced operators. Wales Wales were unbeaten in qualifying as they topped Group B1 [Getty Images] World ranking: 31st World Cup qualifying group: First in Group B1 Last World Cup: Never qualified Wales are aiming to create further history after qualifying for their first major tournament when they featured at Euro 2025. Next on the agenda for Rhian Wilkinson's side is a crack at trying to reach a first World Cup, although, like NI, this tournament may come too soon for their young but exciting squad. They certainly gave themselves the best chance of reaching Brazil by topping Group B1 and winning four of their six games as they earned promotion to League A in the process. They were without influential Jess Fishlock, who retired in October, for this campaign, but Hannah Cain stepped up and netted six goals. There is also excitement around the emergence of 19-year-old Mared Griffiths, who has quickly established herself with three goals in the group taking her to four in just 10 Wales games. It would certainly be an interesting battle if the two young sides were pitted against each other.