#play-offs
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'Nothing impossible' as NI begin long road to Brazil
Northern Ireland defenders Nat Johnson and Rebecca Holloway tell BBC Sport NI of their dream of reaching a first ever Women's World Cup as NI go through the play-offs.
October 8, 2026Davies' 'extra motivation' after Euros heartbreak
Defender Mayzee Davies says missing Wales' first major tournament at Euro 2025 with a serious knee injury has given her extra motivation for the World Cup play-offs.
October 6, 2026How promotion, relegation and knockouts work in Nations League
With more than half of the 2026-27 Nations League group stage completed, BBC Sport looks at what will happen next in the competition.
October 6, 2026Scots recall 'versatile' Kerr & Thomas for World Cup play-offs
Sam Kerr and Martha Thomas are named in their first Scotland squad in almost a year for next month's World Cup round one play-offs against the Czech Republic.
September 23, 2026Dragons feel extra pressure after avoiding WRU cut
Dragons set target of making the United Rugby Championship play-offs after avoiding being cut under Welsh Rugby Union plans.
September 10, 2026Leigh seal top-six spot as St Helens fail to make play-offs
Leigh Leopards secure a Super League top-six finish by thrashing St Helens, ending Saints' hopes of reaching the play-offs.
September 4, 2026Cardiff can reach Championship play-offs - Bielik
Krystian Bielik believes Cardiff are capable of reaching the Championship play-offs in 2026-27.
September 1, 2026Huddersfield upset Leigh with five-try win
Huddersfield Giants score five tries to upset in-form Leigh and keep the Leopards waiting to secure their place in the Super League play-offs.
August 28, 2026St Helens' play-off hopes fade after loss to Hull FC
Harvey Barron's first senior hat-trick inspires lowly Hull FC to a first win at the BrewDog Stadium in nine years as St Helens' season continues to unravel.
August 6, 2026Leigh keep rolling with win over rivals Warrington
Leigh Leopards make it five straight wins with a strong 28-12 success over fellow play-off contenders Warrington Wolves.
July 25, 2026Prem Rugby play-offs set to move to neutral venue
The Prem Rugby play-offs are set to move from home advantage to a neutral venue from the 2029-2030 season.
June 22, 2026Lionesses will face Greece in World Cup play-offs
England will face Greece in round one of the 2027 Women's World Cup play-offs, with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales also learning their opponents.
June 18, 2026Who could NI face in World Cup play-offs?
BBC Sport NI looks at Northern Ireland potential World Cup play-off semi-final opponents ahead of Thursday's draw.
June 17, 2026Why England missed out on automatic World Cup spot
England beat Ukraine 3-0 on Tuesday night but it did not matter what they did as automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup was out of their hands.
June 9, 2026Pain in Grenoble but hope for Irish as play-offs loom
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward reacts with pride to the World Cup qualifying campaign as her side fall just short of an automatic place at next year's tournament.
June 9, 2026Exeter beat Saracens to reach play-offs and end McCall's reign
Exeter beat bitter rivals Saracens 32-12 to ensure a Prem play-off semi-final and end the reign of long-serving Sarries boss Mark McCall.
June 6, 2026Spying scandal rocks English soccer as Southampton expelled from world's richest match - Reuters
Spying scandal rocks English soccer as Southampton expelled from world's richest match Reuters
May 19, 2026Related Pages (18)
'Nothing impossible' as NI begin long road to Brazil
Northern Ireland begin their World Cup play-off journey with a two-legged tie against Portugal A World Cup staged in Brazil is the stuff of dreams for any footballer and the chance to experience that
Davies' 'extra motivation' after Euros heartbreak
Mayzee Davies suffered an ACL injury playing for Wales in May 2025 Wales defender Mayzee Davies says missing Euro 2025 through injury has given her extra motivation for the World Cup play-offs. The
How promotion, relegation and knockouts work in Nations League
England are closing in on reaching the knockout rounds of the 2026-27 Uefa Nations League England will close in on qualification for the 2026-27 Nations League quarter-finals if they beat Czech Repub
Scots recall 'versatile' Kerr & Thomas for World Cup play-offs
Martha Thomas (left) and Sam Kerr (right) return to the Scotland squad for the first time since October Sam Kerr's versatility is a "super strength" that has helped her be named in her first Scotland
Dragons feel extra pressure after avoiding WRU cut
Dragons have finished in the bottom two in their last five seasons Dragons chief executive Rhys Blumberg admits being saved from a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) cut puts extra pressure on results - and has
Leigh seal top-six spot to end Saints' play-off bid
Josh Charnley scored Leigh's first try and celebrated by signing a new contract Betfred Super League Leigh (24) 48 Tries: Charnley, Armstrong, Hanley 2, Cook, Ipape, Alick-Wiencke, Mulhern Goals: C
Cardiff can reach Championship play-offs - Bielik
Krystian Bielik has played 148 games in the Championship Cardiff defender Krystian Bielik is confident the Bluebirds can reach the Championship play-offs. Bielik joined from West Brom last week and
Huddersfield upset Leigh with five-try win
Taane Milne scored Huddersfield Giants' second try in their win against Leigh Leopards Betfred Super League Huddersfield (14) 30 Tries: Rushton, Milne, Evalds, Geyer 2 Goals: Flanagan 5 Leigh (6)
St Helens' play-off hopes fade after loss to Hull FC
Harvey Barron scored a hat-trick for Hull FC to take his tally to ten tries in Super League this season Betfred Super League St Helens (14) 18 Tries: Murphy, Welsby, Robertson Goals: Hastings 3 Hu
Leigh keep rolling with win over rivals Warrington
Leigh have reached the Super League play-offs in each of the last three seasons since promotion Betfred Super League Leigh (16) 28 Tries: Armstrong, Lam, Senior, Ofahengaue, Hanley Goals: Cook 4 W
Lionesses will face Greece in World Cup play-offs
England won five of their six World Cup qualifiers but missed out on automatic qualification by losing 4-0 to Spain earlier this month England have been drawn to play Greece in round one of the 2027
Who could NI face in World Cup play-offs?
Northern Ireland will be unseeded for their play-off semi-final and could face the likes of Portugal, Switzerland, Scotland or Wales The wait is almost over for Northern Ireland to discover their 202
‘This is winner takes all. Everyone's beatable’ - Ireland’s French test for World Cup utopia
CARLA WARD SIGNED off with a simple message on Friday night. “Everyone’s beatable. Let’s fucking go.” A famous 3-2 win over Netherlands at Páirc Uí Chaoimh had set up a straight shootout against Fra
England 3-0 Ukraine: Lionesses made to settle for 2027 Women's World Cup play-off spot despite victory over Ukraine
Match report as England beat Ukraine 3-0 in their final Women's World Cup qualifier; despite the victory, the Lionesses are forced to settle for a play-off spot after Spain took top spot and automatic
England face up to two rounds of World Cup play-offs
England's only defeat was away from home against world champions Spain England beat Ukraine 3-0 on Tuesday night, but it did not matter what they did as automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's W
Exeter deny Saracens English Prem play-off place as McCall bows out
Exeter secured a place in English Prem rugby's semi-finals at the expense of Saracens after beating the London side 32-12 on the last day of the regular season. Saturday's defeat brought down the cur
Exeter beat Saracens to reach play-offs and end McCall's reign
Henry Slade's 10th try of the season put Exeter in control early in the second half The Prem Exeter (8) 32 Tries: Norey, Slade, Zambonin, Varney Cons: Slade 3 Pens: Slade 2 Saracens (5) 12 Tries:
Southampton expelled from Championship play-offs over 'spygate' with Middlesbrough reinstated
Southampton have been expelled from the play-offs; Middlesbrough have been reinstated and will now face Hull City in the play-off final in four days' time on Saturday May 23; Saints have appealed deci