VERA PAUW’S REPUBLIC of Ireland can bypass the first round of World Cup playoffs if they beat Slovakia on Tuesday.
England’s 2-0 win over Austria earlier today, combined with Serbia and Belgium’s defeats to Portugal and Norway respectively last night, mean that three points for Ireland in Senec next week will see them qualify for the second playoff round as one of the three best group runners-up.
The other six group runners up will have to compete in a first playoff round on 6 October, with three of them eventually moving onto the second round.
The two highest ranked winners in the second playoff round (rankings based on the group stage and the playoff fixture itself) progress to the World Cup finals.
The third playoff winner will enter an inter-confederation round next February, in which they will compete in a three-team group with two sides from Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Cameroon, Senegal, Haiti, Panama, Chile, Papa New Guinea.
Alessia Russo and Nikita Parris’s goals for the European champions in Vienna sealed England’s automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and they could also shorten Ireland’s journey Down Under provided Pauw’s women can see off fourth-placed Slovakia in their final group-stage clash.
Ireland guaranteed their place in at least the first round of the playoffs with a 1-0 victory over Finland at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday.
C’mon Ireland
They deserve to progress best of luck to them
Hon the motzers
Once again England to the rescue
So the second round consists of six teams in a play off. Are they drawn against each other for a one off game? And then only two of the three winners go to the world cup based on rankings? That means one team could win all their play off games and still not qualify. Doesn’t sound right.
Are the six second round teams divided into two groups of three for round robins?
The article doesn’t explain the format sufficiently I think
@Gerard Kelsh: there are 2 rounds of 1 off matches to determine 3 places from the 9 runners up. 2 of the 3 qualify to make up the 11 European teams.
The 3rd goes to a qualifying mini tournament in Feb in New Zealand to make up the full 24 teams.
I think!!!