All Or Nothing: The Two-Game Reckoning for Welsh, Irish, and Northern Irish World Cup Ambitions

For Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, the World Cup playoff draw has crystallized a brutal, all-or-nothing scenario: two wins are needed in March, and two losses mean four more years of waiting. The stakes could not be higher for the three nations.
Wales has the clear initial advantage of hosting their semi-final against Bosnia & Herzegovina. They understand that capitalizing on this home tie is non-negotiable, as failing to progress to the final makes their favorable draw worthless. They are playing for a potential final against Italy in Cardiff.
Northern Ireland faces the ultimate risk/reward fixture: an away game against Italy. A win would be one of the greatest achievements in their history; a loss ends their campaign immediately against the toughest possible opponent.
The Republic of Ireland needs their travelling support to be at its best for their away semi-final in Prague against the Czech Republic. Success would lead to a final on home soil, a monumental reward that makes the initial away gamble worthwhile.
With semi-finals on March 26 and finals on March 31, the five-day period will decide everything. These two matches represent a monumental reckoning for the long-held World Cup ambitions of all three teams.