Who could NI face in World Cup play-offs?

Who could NI face in World Cup play-offs?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Northern Ireland will be unseeded for their play-off semi-final and could face the likes of Portugal, Switzerland, Scotland or WalesByLauren McCannBBC Sport NI JournalistPublished2 minutes agoThe wait is almost over for Northern Ireland to discover their 2027 Women's World Cup play-off semi-final opponents.Michael McArdle's side finished third in Group B2, winning two of their six games - both against Malta - to secure a play-off spot and retain their place in League B.It will be a tough ask for NI to reach their first ever World Cup as they will be unseeded for both the two-legged semi-final and two-legged final of the play-offs.Even if they progress through those four games, it may not be enough as the lowest-ranked of the eight play-off winners in Europe will go into the inter-confederation play-offs early next year and - should they get that far - there is a good chance that would be NI.Northern Ireland have relished the underdog tag before and did defy the odds in the play-offs to reach Euro 2022, so McArdle's young side will dream they can replicate that feat.BBC Sport NI looks at who they could face in their semi-final ahead of Thursday's draw.SloveniaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Slovenia beat Republic of Ireland 4-0 in the Nations League last yearWorld ranking: 38th World Cup qualifying group: Fourth in Group A4 Last World Cup: Never qualifiedSlovenia, like Northern Ireland, have never played at a World Cup and while they are the lowest ranked side that McArdle's team could face, they would represent a tricky play-off opponent.Sasa Kolman's side won one of their six Group A4 games as they finished fourth and suffered relegation back to League B.However, they were in a difficult group with Austria, who they beat 1-0 to start their campaign, as well as Norway and Germany.Slovenia thrashed an off-colour Republic of Ireland 4-0 in a Nations...