THE PLAYOFF PICTURE

THE European play-offs for the 2023 World Cup will involve the runners-up from all nine groups. The play-offs will consist of two single-leg ties. The top three second-placed teams will be seeded for the second round, while the six others will meet in the first round.

Ireland, currently seventh of the nine second-placed teams, could move them into the top three if they win their last two qualifiers, meaning they would only need one play-off.

Victory in the second round makes things no less complicated. Only the top two are guaranteed a place in next year’s World Cup, with the third best team facing into a 10-team Inter-Confederation play-off next February.

Again, the ranking of the three winners will be decided by their group results and also the play-off final result.