This is a long and convoluted process, but, in theory, yes.
As we touched on above, Northern Ireland’s group-winning performance in the Nations League means there is still an outside path available to the World Cup.
In the ranking of the Nations League group winners, Northern Ireland are ranked in 12th place of 16 teams.
The teams above them are: Spain, Germany, Portugal, France, England, Norway, Wales, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and North Macedonia.
The four Nations League group winners who have not already qualified or made a play-off will be handed a route into the play-offs.
For O’Neill’s side to secure a play-off spot through this route, they would require eight of those 11 teams to finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group.
Exactly who stands where might be clearer by the time Northern Ireland’s delayed campaign begins in September, but finishing in the top two would simply take this convoluted process out of the equation.
