Scotland, Northern Ireland & Wales await Euro 2025 play-off draw

As winners and runners-up of their Group A sections, holders England, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands and Spain join hosts Switzerland, who incidentally won their Group B section, in qualifying directly for Euro 2025.

That leaves everyone else battling for the remaining seven spots over those two rounds of play-offs.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, along with Portugal, who topped Northern Ireland’s group, Scotland’s group runners-up, Serbia, and Ukraine, who finished behind the Welsh, will be seeded for the first round of play-offs.

They will face one of the following sides, also from League B:

Turkey – Ranked 61st in the world. Finished seven points behind the Swiss in Group B1.

Croatia – Ranked 56. Finished third behind Wales and Ukraine in Group B4. Were eased aside 4-0 in Wrexham and 3-0 by the Welsh at home.

Hungary – Ranked 43. Finished third behind Switzerland and Turkey in B1.

Bosnia and Herzegovina – Ranked 62. Finished third behind Portugal and Northern Ireland, who beat them 3-1 away from home and 2-0 in Belfast.

Slovakia – Ranked 50. Finished third behind Scotland and Serbia. Lost 1-0 at Hampden and 2-0 at home to the Scots.

Azerbaijan – Ranked 75. Finished last in their group behind Switzerland, Turkey and Hungary.

After five straight wins, Scotland have moved up one place to 23rd in the current rankings, while Wales are up one to 31st after also finishing their group unbeaten.

Both should start favourites to progress whoever they face, while Northern Ireland, although down two to 48th, will also fancy their chances when the ties are played over two legs on 23 and 29 October.