Coaches Weigh In: Bellamy ‘Confident,’ O’Neill ‘Realistic,’ Hallgrímsson ‘Delighted’ with Playoff Hand

The dramatic World Cup playoff draw has elicited a range of reactions from the head coaches of Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, as they now prepare for the high-stakes matches in March. Their comments reveal the contrasting optimism and daunting realities facing each team’s path to the 2026 World Cup.
Craig Bellamy of Wales expressed quiet confidence, securing two potential home games in Cardiff. The team’s dominant 7–1 victory over North Macedonia gives them strong momentum heading into the semi-final against Bosnia & Herzegovina. Bellamy knows the team must deliver but is buoyed by the prospect of playing the final, likely against Italy, with the full backing of the home crowd.
Northern Ireland coach Michael O’Neill was realistic about the task ahead: an away semi-final against Italy. He acknowledged it is “as tough as we can get” but stressed that the pressure is firmly on the four-time champions who must avoid missing another World Cup. O’Neill’s focus will be on organization and exploiting the psychological weight carried by the Azzurri.
Republic of Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson was visibly delighted by the potential reward for his team’s journey. While they face a tough away semi-final in Prague against the Czech Republic, the ultimate prize is a potential home final in Dublin. Hallgrímsson highlighted the “big importance” of a home final, especially given Troy Parrott’s phenomenal five-goal run which has sparked major optimism.
The path to the 2026 World Cup is defined by these two crucial matches in March. With the semi-finals on the 26th and the finals on the 31st, the coaches have a short window to prepare their squads for these knockout battles, with four European spots at stake.