The Republic of Ireland will play Czechia this Thursday night in the semi-final of the UEFA World Cup 2026 qualifying play-offs.
The match kicks off at 7:45pm Irish time at the Fortuna Arena in Prague. It is a single-leg tie, with the winner advancing to the final play-off next week for a place at the 2026 World Cup in North America.
Ireland, under manager Heimir HallgrÃmsson, finished second in their qualifying group behind Portugal and now face a tough away fixture against a competitive Czech side. The Czechs finished third in their group and are looking to reach the World Cup for the first time since 2006.
Key players for Ireland include captain Séamus Coleman, midfielders Josh Cullen and Jason Knight, and forwards Evan Ferguson and Callum Robinson. The squad will be hoping to secure a positive result on the road before hosting the final play-off match if they progress.
A win on Thursday would set up a decisive final next Tuesday, keeping Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for their first World Cup since 2002 firmly alive.
Tune into RTE from 7pm for full coverage.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.
