📺 Watch FIFA World Cup play-off draw LIVE from Zurich
Draw takes place at 1pm
Last updated 17th Oct 2017
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DRAW LIVE ON YOUTUBE
It’s D-day for both Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Both sides are set to find out who they will face for a place in the World Cup finals.
The draw is due to get underway in Zurich.
Neither will be seeded, however, and could face either Italy, one of the competition’s most successful nations with four World Cup titles to their credit; Switzerland, Croatia or Denmark.
The two-legged ties will take place between 9 – 14 November.
WATCH THE DRAW LIVE HERE (STREAM WILL BEGIN 13:00 UK TIME):
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DRAW LIVE ON YOUTUBE
How will the draw work?
The eight teams will be divided into two pots, with the four best-ranked teams in one of the pots.
First of all, a team will be drawn from pot 1, and then another from pot 2. Both balls will then be placed into a third pot. Both balls in pot 3 will then be mixed up again and then drawn one after the other. The team drawn first will be at home in the first leg. The same procedure will then be repeated for the remaining balls in the two pots.
Who will present the draw?
Famous Mexican TV presenter Vanessa Huppenkothen will carry out the official draw, assisted by former Spain international Fernando Hierro.
The coaches of the various teams involved will also be in Zurich.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE DRAW LIVE ON YOUTUBE
What countries have already qualified for the World Cup?
23 teams have booked their places already for the tournament in Russia next summer.
England, Portugal, Germany, Egypt, Nigeria, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Iceland, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Spain, Costa Rica, Mexico, France, Uruguay, Panama, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil will all be there.
2018 World Cup play-offs: Who could Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland face?