Hallgrimsson predicts tight World Cup qualifying group

Heimir Hallgrimsson is relatively pleased with Ireland's group following the World Cup qualifying draw in Zurich on Friday morning; the national team manager saying that it was "good for us".

Ireland have been drawn in a group that will feature either Denmark or Portugal as the top seeded side, as well as second seed Hungary and fourth tiered Armenia.

The Republic were ranked among the third tier teams and Ireland will now look ahead to September 2025 to begin their quest for qualification.

A four-team group for the Irish in their bid to reach the 2026 tournament, which is to be hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico, with just the group winners guaranteed automatic qualification.

Second place in the group would ensure a play-off route to the expanded tournament, with 48 teams set to compete at the FIFA showpiece.

"Kind of neutral, could have been worse, could have been better," said Hallgrimsson, when asked about his first impressions of the World Cup qualifying draw.

"I think it’s a group that definitely teams will take points from each other, so looking at it, I don’t think there will be a runaway winner which makes it more possible to qualify, so good for us. I think it’s a kind of an equal group."

"Yeah. I would have said that anyway no matter who we were drawn against," Hallgrimsson added, when asked whether he was excited about the campaign. "You need to be happy anyway, that is our opponent so you we just go positive into that campaign."

Hallgrimson can start planning for the year ahead, which will begin with the Nations League play-off against Bulgaria in March, while the four-team nature of the group takes away the possibility of competitive fixtures in the always tricky June window, which should result in a couple of