Ireland could face another group of death in World Cup qualifiers

Despite jumping from 60th to 52nd place in the latest Fifa world rankings, Ireland are set to be seeded fourth in the qualifying groups for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

52nd spot in the world means Ireland are the 32nd ranked side in Europe - 31st out of the teams vying for World Cup qualification, given Russia’s automatic place - but would need a ranking of 28 or better to be seeded third.

Among those joining Martin O’Neill’s side as fourth seeds are Norway, Israel, Slovenia and Turkey, and all could be lumbered with fearsome qualification groups when the draw is made in St Petersburg on July 25th.

So far, Ireland’s Euro 2016 qualification group has lived up to its billing as the group of death, with Poland, Germany and Scotland all on course for a place in France next summer while Ireland look set to miss out.

Hopes of reaching a first World Cup since 2002 will hinge largely on who Ireland have to beat to get there. So, who is to be avoided and what constitutes a good draw.

The majority of the first seeds scream danger, but Ireland could be drawn with Wales, Romania or Croatia, all of which should be manageble ties.

Italy and France are the teams to be avoided from pot two, with Austria, Denmark, Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina all favourable draws.

From the third seeds Ireland could be reunited with Scotland, while Poland, Sweden and even Northern Ireland would want to be avoided.

BEST CASE SCENARIO:

Romania

Iceland

Albania

IRELAND

Moldova

Andorra

WORST CASE SCENARIO:

Germany

Italy

Sweden

IRELAND

Latvia

Kazakhstan

Russia 2018 qualification seedings:

Pot one:

Germany (2)

Belgium (3)

Netherlands (5)

Portugal (7)

Romania (8)

England (9)

Wales (10)

Spain (12)

Croatia (14)

Pot two:

Slovakia (15)

Austria (15)

Italy (17)

Switzerland (18)

Czech Republic (20)

France (22)

Iceland (23)

Denmark (24)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (26)

Pot three:

Ukraine (27)

Scotland (29)

Poland (30)

Hungary (31)

Sweden (33)

Albania (36)

Northern Ireland (37)

Serbia (43)

Greece (44)

Pot four:

Turkey (48)

Slovenia (49)

Israel (51)

IRELAND (52)

Norway (67)

Bulgaria (68)

Faroe Islands (74)

Montenegro (81)

Estonia (82)

Pot five:

Cyprus (85)

Latvia (87)

Armenia (89)

Finland (90)

Belarus (100)

Macedonia (105)

Azerbaijan (108)

Lithuania (110)

Moldova (124)

Pot six:

Kazakhstan (142)

Luxembourg (146)

Liechtenstein (147)

Georgia (153)

Malta (158)

San Marino (192)

Andorra (202)