Last Saturday's victory over Denmark has shot the team to 32nd in the FIFA Rankings, up four places on the previous month, and as far as Europe is concerned Northern Ireland are now ranked 23rd.

The 1-0 defeat at the hands of Spain in Las Palmas on Wednesday had no bearing on the position, with no points scored in that game.

With the UEFA nations being divided into nine qualifying groups in Sunday's draw, the third seeding which was expected has been clinched.

It is an amazing turnaround for Northern Ireland. Despite missing out on the Euro 2008 finals the team has risen steadily in the rankings after being seeded sixth for the European Championships.

The Republic of Ireland are in 35th place - 24th in Europe - and that should mean there will be no all-Ireland clash in the World Cup qualifiers as the two teams will be placed in the same pot.

There may be a meeting with either England or Scotland though. The English. now 12th in FIFA's rankings, have just about clung on to their place in the top ten in Europe despite their failure to make the Championship finals, but along with the Scots they will be ranked in the second pot in Sunday's draw.

Alex McLeish's men are 14th in the world and 12th in Europe after their recent great run.

How the World Cup draw pans out is likely to be a deciding factor on whether Nigel Worthington wishes to remain in charge of Northern Ireland.

His six-match contract has now expired and talks over a possible new deal are expected to take place very soon.

He will be offered a contract for the World Cup series and it will then be up to him; but he has hinted that staying on is in his mind.