Three Celtic players have learned who their nations will face in the upcoming 2026 World Cup play-off qualifiers.
Several Celtic stars have qualified for the World Cup already, including Scotland after Kieran Tierney shone on the international stage.
For others, they will have to play a few more gruelling games before making sure of their place in the USA, Canada and Mexico. All of these fixtures will be one-legged affairs during the March international break.
Liam Scales, Johnny Kenny (Republic of Ireland) and Michel-Ange Balikwisha (DR Congo) were the three affected by the draw that took place in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday 20 November.
Two Celtic stars in danger of not going to the World Cup
Republic of Ireland to face Czechia in World Cup play-off semi-final
Scales and Kenny were both part of the Ireland side that recorded famous wins against Portugal and Hungary to secure their play-off place.
Kenny made his senior national team debut against Hungary while Scales provided the assist for Troy Parrott’s winner.
Both will expect to be a part of the squad for the games in March, and as a reward for that dramatic victory in Budapest, will play in the semi-final against Czechia away from home.
If they emerge victorious in that, they will then take on the winner of Denmark vs North Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium, of which Kasper Schmeichel will be a part of.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha and DR Congo handed World Cup play-off bye
Balikwisha made his DR Congo debut in their penalty shootout win against Nigeria to move to within one game of qualifying.
They have had an extra sigh of relief after discovering that they have received a bye in the semi-final due to their FIFA nation ranking.
This means that they will only have to play once and have learned that they will face the winner of New Caledonia or Jamaica.
On the other side of the draw, the winner of Bolivia and Suriname will go up against Iraq.
These games will take place in Mexico, in Guadalajara and Monterrey – two of the host cities for the tournament.
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