Conor Bradley handed nightmare scenario as Liverpool duo learns World Cup fate

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Conor Bradley and Northern Ireland have been handed a nightmare draw in the play-offs for the World Cup as two of Liverpool's stars found out their fate ahead of next year's tournament. Bradley's nation have been drawn away to top seeds Italy in their semi-final, and should they come through that tough encounter, they will face another away tie against the winner of Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Should they win, they will play their final at home to the winner of Poland's game against Albania. The draw was made at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich on Thursday, with Wales and the Republic of Ireland also involved after both securing play-off spots in their final qualifying games.

Alexander Isak and Sweden will have to go through the play-offs if they're to reach the World Cup (Image: Getty Images) Wales thrashed North Macedonia 7-1 on Tuesday to claim second place in its group, while Ireland snatched its spot from Hungary in the most dramatic of circumstances, with Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez left in tears after Troy Parrott’s stoppage-time winner in Budapest. The inter-confederation play-offs were also decided on Thursday, with six teams from the rest of the world battling it out for two places at next year's tournament.