Who could NI face in World Cup play-offs?

Northern Ireland's potential opponents in the World Cup play-offs will be determined by a draw scheduled for Thursday, November 23, 2023. The draw will decide the semi-final pairings for the path that includes Northern Ireland, with the semi-finals set to take place on March 21, 2024. The winners of these semi-final matches will then advance to the final, scheduled for March 26, 2024. Northern Ireland's specific path within the play-offs depends on their final standing in the qualifying group stage, which concluded recently. The draw involves 12 teams, with the top 12 ranked group runners-up securing play-off spots. These teams will be divided into three paths, each containing four teams, to compete for the final three European qualification berths for the World Cup. The seeding for the draw will be based on the teams' performance in the qualifying group stage, meaning higher-ranked teams will be drawn at home for the semi-finals. BBC Sport NI is analyzing the possible opponents based on current standings and historical performance in international football.