Both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will be in Pot 3 for the upcoming UEFA preliminary draw for FIFA World Cup 2022.
In Pot 3 with the Irish sides are Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Norway, Iceland, Scotland, Greece and Finland.
Belgium are the confirmed top seeds for the draw in Zurich on 7 December 2020 and will be in Pot 1. France, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are also in the top pot.
Wales, who recently played the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Nations League competition, are in Pot 2. Alongside them are Switzerland, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Slovakia and Romania.
Fifty-five teams will be divided into five groups of five and five groups of six.
The qualifiers will be played on a home and away basis between March and November 2021.
Pots 1-6
1: Belgium, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands.
2: Switzerland, Wales, Poland, Sweden, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Slovakia, Romania.
3: Russia, Hungary, Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, Norway, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Scotland, Greece, Finland.
4: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Israel, Belarus, Georgia, Luxembourg.
5: Armenia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Kosovo, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Andorra.
6: Malta, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, San Marino.
The Qualification Process
The winners of the 10 UEFA qualifying groups will qualify automatically for the finals in Qatar.
Another three places will be fought out between the 10 group runners-up and the two highest-ranked teams from the Nations League who have not already qualified or finished in a runners-up spot.
The 12 teams will be divided into three play-off paths, each featuring four countries, to determine the final three European places for Qatar.
Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup during November and December of 2022.
