Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales have discovered their opponents for the Euro 2025 play-offs. Scotland will be facing Hungary, Northern Ireland will be up against Croatia, and Wales will take on Slovakia in the first round of play-offs for the Euro 2025 finals in Switzerland.
If Wales and the Republic of Ireland both progress, they could face each other in the second round of play-offs. Scotland will meet Montenegro or Finland if they defeat Hungary, while Northern Ireland could potentially face Albania or Norway if they defeat Croatia.
The first legs of the play-off first round will be held on 23 October, with the return ties scheduled for a week later. The round two play-offs are set to take place on 27 November and 3 December.
With seven places yet to be decided for next year’s finals, teams like England, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain have already qualified as winners or runners-up of their League A qualifying sections, with Switzerland qualifying as hosts.
Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales were seeded in a hat of League B nations for the play-offs. Scotland, currently ranked 23 in the world, will be favorites against Hungary, who are 20 places below them in the rankings. Northern Ireland, ranked 48th, will fancy their chances against Croatia, while Wales, ranked 31st, will be favorites to defeat Slovakia.
The Republic of Ireland, who are six places above Wales in the FIFA rankings, could potentially be Wales’ next opponents if they both progress. The Welsh prevailed 2-0 in their last meeting in a friendly in Ireland in February.
The play-offs are divided into two paths – League C teams against League A teams, and League B teams against each other. The ties are set to be played on 23 and 30 October for the first round, with the second round taking place on 27 November and 3 December.
It will be an exciting time for football fans as these teams battle it out for a spot in the Euro 2025 finals. The matches are sure to be intense and full of surprises, as each team fights for their chance to compete on the big stage.