Euro 2024 play-off draw LIVE: Wales to meet Finland in first match of the final qualification stage

Wales have been drawn against Finland in the Euro 2024 play-offs, where three of 12 nations will secure a place at the tournament in Germany next summer.

Consecutive 1-1 draws against Armenia and Turkey during the most recent international break meant Wales slipped beneath Croatia in Group D and now face a further play-off battle to reach the tournament. They have been drawn against Finland, and should they emerge victorious they will face the winner of Poland vs Estonia for a place in the main draw.

Rob Page’s side are no strangers to using this route of qualification for major tournaments having reached the 2022 World Cup by beating Austria in a home semi-final before overcoming Ukraine in Cardiff.

Ukraine themselves will be hoping for a better outcome this time around as they face the play-offs once more along with several of the best third place finishers from qualifying, and will travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina before a potential final against the winners of Israel vs Iceland. With a minimum of four sides needed for each of the three play-off paths, teams from lower Nations League tiers make up the numbers.

The play-off semi-finals will be held on Thursday 21 March before the finals take place five days later on Tuesday 26 March.

Follow the Euro 2024 play-off draw live below:

Euro 2024 play-off draw live

• Wales, Ukraine, Iceland and Greece among the names to discover their route to Euro 2024

Euro 2024 play-off draw

12:18 , Sonia Twigg

Wales have been drawn to host Finland in the semi-finals of the qualification play-offs for Euro 2024.

The match will take place on Thursday, March 21 at Cardiff City Stadium.

Should Rob Page’s men win that single-leg tie, they would then host either Poland or Estonia five days later at the same venue to play for a spot at next summer’s tournament in Germany.

Wales to host Finland in Euro 2024 semi-final play-off

Euro 2024 play-off draw

12:15 , Sonia Twigg

Here’s what the manager had to say after Wales failed to automatically qualify for the tournament:

Rob Page insists Wales can reach Euro 2024 by drawing on their successful World Cup play-off history.

Wales were consigned to the Euro play-offs in March after a controversial 1-1 draw with Turkey in Cardiff.

Neco Williams’ early strike was cancelled out by Yusuf Yazici’s second-half penalty – with Page suggesting Wales would have won with another referee – as the Dragons fell short in their bid to overtake Croatia for the second automatic qualifying place behind group winners Turkey.

Rob Page draws on play-off experience after Wales miss out on Euro qualification

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:55 , Sonia Twigg

Wales manager Page had some words to say about his own future:

Rob Page says he is “absolutely” the right man to lead Wales in the Euro 2024 play-offs despite his position being under review.

Page has already started planning for the March play-offs and will attend Thursday’s draw in Switzerland when Wales will learn the identity of their semi-final opponents.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney cast doubts over Page’s future last month by saying a “serious review” would take place after the final qualifiers “when everything will be settled”.

Rob Page ‘absolutely’ adamant he will lead Wales into Euro 2024 play-offs

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:35 , Sonia Twigg

Wales must navigate the play-offs in March to reach the European Championship finals next summer.

If they do so, it will be Wales’ fourth major tournament out of the last five.

Here’s a look at Wales’ Euro 2024 story, and what happens next:

What happens next for Wales as they look to book a place at Euro 2024?

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:33 , Sonia Twigg

Rob Page says he is “absolutely” the right man to lead Wales in the Euro 2024 play-offs despite his position being under review.

Page has already started planning for the March play-offs and will attend Thursday’s draw in Switzerland when Wales will learn the identity of their semi-final opponents.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney cast doubts over Page’s future last month by saying a “serious review” would take place after the final qualifiers “when everything will be settled”.

Rob Page ‘absolutely’ adamant he will lead Wales into Euro 2024 play-offs

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:23 , Sonia Twigg

And path C:

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:23 , Sonia Twigg

Path B:

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:22 , Sonia Twigg

Here is a full summary of the draw, starting with Path A:

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:21 , Sonia Twigg

Wales have recently been successful in the play-offs, beating Scotland and Ukraine to secure a place in the Qatar 2022 World Cup - their first time in the competition since 1958.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:19 , Sonia Twigg

Wales have two home matches and their path is laid out by the national team on social media:

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:17 , Sonia Twigg

So now Wales and Ukraine both know what they have to do to qualify.

Path B could be interesting as it remains to be seen if Israel or Ukraine will be able to host the other team.

But that is the end of the draw.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:16 , Sonia Twigg

Now onto the hosts of the final of each path:

The winner of Georgia or Luxembourg will play the final of path C at home against the winner of Greece vs Kazakhstan.

The winner of Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Ukraine will host the winner of Israel vs Iceland.

Whoever comes out on top between Wales vs Finland will host the winner of Poland vs Estonia.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:14 , Sonia Twigg

Wales will take on Finland in their semi-final in path A, so in order to qualify for Euro 2024, they will have to beat Finland and then the winner of Poland and Estonia.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:12 , Sonia Twigg

Ukraine is the second team drawn and they will play Bosnia-Herzegovina in the semi-final in path B.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:12 , Sonia Twigg

Iceland are the first team drawn into Path B, and as the lowest-ranked team they will play Israel in semi-final one.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:11 , Sonia Twigg

We will start with path C, where no draw is needed.

Georgia will play Luxembourg and Greece will play Kazakhstan at the semi-final stage, with the winners playing in a final for a spot in Euro 2024.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:09 , Sonia Twigg

The draw is just being explained, with the play-offs due to take place in March. 12 teams will be in the play-offs.

UEFA nations league group winners who did not reach the main tournament through the qualifying groups are in the draw, as are others who are in on merit from the Nations League.

Nations League group winners of groups C and D cannot be in a path with a higher league.

The path’s have a single-leg semi-final and then a final.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:06 , Sonia Twigg

Here is a bit more background explaining the play-offs:

The Euro 2024 play-offs offer one last chance for European nations to reach next summer’s major tournament in Germany. The three remaining spots will be contested by 12 teams in the play-offs in March, but how those dozen teams were decided is complicated, and contentious too.

The 2022/23 Uefa Nations League standings were used to select those 12 teams, with four each entering the play-offs from Nations Leagues A, B and C, setting up three paths to three different finals, for the chance to reach the Euros.

Why winless Iceland are in Euro 2024 play-offs and 10-point Norway are not

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:05 , Sonia Twigg

Steffen Freund is about to join Giorgio Marchetti on stage to help with the draw.

He won the trophy with Germany back in 1996.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:04 , Sonia Twigg

As is usual for these draws there is time for a montage from all the countries involved in the play-off draw, including Wales, Kazakhstan and Ukraine.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:02 , Sonia Twigg

Already 20 nations have qualified for the main draw, with another three due to come through these play offs.

There is time for a closer look at the teams involved.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:01 , Sonia Twigg

Giorgio Marchetti is presenting the draw, with the representatives from the nations involved sitting in front of him.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

11:00 , Sonia Twigg

The stage is set, and the draw should be starting soon

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:54 , Sonia Twigg

Just a final reminder about Path C: It doesn’t require a draw as the allocation is already confirmed. It will be formed of three League C group winners, Georgia, Greece and Kazakhstan, as well as the League C group runner-up, Luxembourg.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:50 , Sonia Twigg

We’re now just 10 minutes away from the start of the Euro 2024 play-off draw.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:45 , Sonia Twigg

How does the play-off draw work?

According to Uefa, the main thing to draw is which side from Finland, Ukraine or Iceland goes into ‘Path A’ and which of the other two go into ‘Path B’. The draw will also determine which winner of the semi-final hosts the play-off final.

According to Uefa, if Finland are allocated to Path B by the draw, as the higher-ranked team they would play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and whichever of Ukraine or Iceland are allocated to Path B would play top-ranked Israel. If Ukraine and Iceland are both allocated to Path B, the higher-ranked Ukraine would play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iceland would play Israel.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:40 , Sonia Twigg

Here was one of the surprise stories, from the Czech Republic:

Czech Republic beat 10-man Moldova 3-0 to qualify for Euro 2024 after Tomas Chory scored and provided an assist on his international debut in the Group E clash on Monday, thereby also ensuring Moldova missed out on a first major finals appearance.

However, coach Jaroslav Silhavy resigned after the victory, saying his decision was partly due to the pressure of the job.

Czech Republic manager quits after qualifying for Euro 2024

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:30 , Sonia Twigg

Here’s a closer look at Wales’ qualifying campaign:

In the end, Wales’ destiny was decided not in Cardiff, but 1,200 miles away in Zagreb. For 35 minutes, they dared to dream. They could imagine the virtual table, showing them ahead of Croatia, propelling them to Euro 2024. Yet by the end of the night, Wales had lost a lead against Turkey and, more pertinently, Croatia had gained one against Armenia. Ante Budimir’s goal for Croatia condemned Wales to the play-offs, regardless of their own result.

Wales must take the long road to Euro 2024 after automatic hopes extinguished

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:20 , Sonia Twigg

Here’s a look at those smaller countries with an outside chance of reaching the finals:

Two rounds of matches left in qualifying for a major competition. By now, as the football gods deem it, there must be a number of big nations already through, at least one of which has a perfect record, further calling into question the need and point for lengthy group stages.

Additionally, it is required that a handful of established footballing countries must still be “sweating” or otherwise marginally concerned over their places at the finals, often with “work to do” but certainly still “needing a result”. Thirdly, and often most (viciously) enjoyably for some, one previous winner or at least finalist from a major tournament of yesteryear must be facing up to their new reality of missing out altogether.

The football minnows within touching distance of Euro 2024

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:10 , Sonia Twigg

Here’s a quick look ahead to the main draw:

England will head to Euro 2024 as one of the top seeds as Gareth Southgate’s side look to go one step better than three years ago, when the Three Lions were beaten by Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley.

After an unbeaten qualifying campaign that featured wins against Italy both at home and away in Naples, England joined hosts Germany, Portugal, France, Spain and Belgium in Pot 1.

They could face another all-British clash against Scotland in the Euro 2024 group stages after Steve Clarke’s side qualified for their second European Championships in a row. The Scots, who faced England in the Euro 2020 group stages, are in Pot 3.

When is the Euro 2024 draw and what are the pots?

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:07 , Karl Matchett

Teams already qualified:

Germany, Belgium, France, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Austria, England, Hungary, Slovakia, Albania, Denmark, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Serbia, Czech Republic, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia.

Euro 2024 play-off draw

10:00 , Sonia Twigg

Wales will learn their Euro 2024 play-off opponents as the draw is made to determine the bracket for the three remaining places at next summer’s finals.

Rob Page’s side will need to navigate the play-offs if they are to reach a fourth major tournament in eight years after Wales finished behind Turkey and Croatia in qualifying from Group D.

Wales are guaranteed a home semi-final after taking their place in play-off ‘Path A’ - but the draw will determine who they face in March’s play-off rounds, while Poland and Robert Lewandowski could be waiting in the final.

What time is the Euro 2024 play-off draw and how can I watch it?

Euro 2024 play-off draw

09:30 , Sonia Twigg

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog of the Euro 2024 play-off draw.

We will be bringing you all the build-up and news ahead of the draw, which starts at 11 am.