The Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dream that came so close ahead of USA 26’ but ended in heartbreak.
It has been 24 years since the Republic of Ireland featured at a FIFA World Cup. Despite Manchester United legend Roy Keane infamously leaving the camp in Saipan shortly before the 2002 World Cup after a feud with Manager Mick McCarthy, Ireland managed to reach the knockout stages of the tournament.
The Boys in Green also famously reached the knockout stages under Big “Jack Charlton” in Italia 90′ and USA 94. The Irish national team would even be noted as the 8th-best team in the world for a short period after the 1994 World Cup. While Ireland would feature at the 2012 Euros and notably the 2016 Euros under current Celtic coach Martin O’Neill, the World Cup dream was lost and a new generation craved for the summers that the Irish nation of the 90’s experienced.
Ireland came close to reaching that World Cup dream in 2010 when A “Thierry Henry Handball” famously denied the Irish a place in the tournament in South Africa, and Denmark would deny Ireland a place in the 2018 tournament in Russia. A light at the end of the tunnel would be seen in 2026, ahead of the tournament that will take place in the USA, for the “Icelandic Dentist” Heimar Hallgrimmson, the current Republic of Ireland manager, but it would unfortunately end in heartbreak for the Boys in Green.
The Republic of Ireland would get a tough qualifying group for 2026, drawing Portugal, Hungary, and Armenia. Ireland would open up their campaign by drawing to Hungary in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with current Roma striker Evan Ferguson and current Swansea frontman Adam Idah scoring for the home side.
All hope looked lost as Ireland would then lose to Armenia, a team ranked significantly lower than the Irish. Portugal would also beat Ireland in Lisbon, and fans presumed that the World Cup dream would soon cease to exist. However, after beating Armenia in the return fixture, Ireland’s luck would turn around. Portugal would travel to the Aviva, and Cristiano Ronaldo would be sent off as the Republic of Ireland beat Portugal 2-0, with AZ Alkmaar’s Troy Parrott scoring a memorable brace.
Ireland would then go on to win 3 games in a row and knock out Hungary away in Budapest as Troy Parrott would shine once again and score a hat-trick in a marvellous 3-2 win for the Boys in Green, including a 95th-minute winner from Parrott. Hallgrimmson’s side would then be drawn against Czechia away in Prague. Parrott’s in-form standard at club level and Ireland’s performances gave fans a cinematic buzz boosted by media outlets that wasn’t felt in the country since the 1990s.
The stakes were high as approximately 6,000 Irish fans travelled to Prague, with some fans even without tickets, and even some fans with home-end tickets! Several pubs across Ireland and over in Czechia were packed with Irish fans for the occasion, as it was hoped that Ireland could meet the winners of Denmark and Macedonia if they got the job done in Prague. Ireland would go 2 0 up, in which Parrott scored a penalty.
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Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick would then score a penalty after a foul from Southampton’s Ryan Manning, and Ladislav Krejci would then score later in the 86th minute to send the game to extra time. During a penalty shootout between the nations, Alan Browne and Finn Azaz would take Poor penalties for Ireland, which resulted in heartbreak as Czechia advanced to meet Denmark in the World Cup Play-off final. A less glorified friendly against North Macedonia awaits Ireland on Tuesday, the 31st of March.
While Ireland essentially “threw away” the World Cup dream in a sickening game in Prague, it has to be said that it was a momentous achievement that Ireland turned around their campaign and brought Portugal and Hungary, tough opposition, to their knees. Hallgrimmson, who is under contract by the FAI, will now focus on Euro 28′ and World Cup qualifying for 2030.
Although Ireland’s squad is predominantly made up of EFL Championship players, it has to be noted that players such as Jake O’Brien, Nathan Collins, and Josh Cullen are essentially Premier League standard. Cullen, alongside Ferguson, missed the play-off semi-final against Czechia due to injury.
Fans also question whether Denmark would have easily beaten Ireland if Ireland had advanced against Czechia. While in 2017 qualifying action, Denmark easily beat Ireland, Ireland’s current form meant that the fixture could have differed from that in 2026. It is also important to note that Czechia has been unbeaten at home since 2022. Although it is heartbreaking that an international friendly awaits Ireland instead of a World Cup, the side certainly still needs the support in the game against North Macedonia and their summer fixtures to come.
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The World Cup 2026 edition would have provided a summer to remember, which would have economically and socially benefited Ireland as a country. While it is absolutely nothing but a heartache that Ireland did not qualify after a poor performance (primarily after Schick’s penalty, the Irish were poor for the rest of that game) against the Czechs, the players got a touching grasp of the tournament.
The World Cup dream for the Republic of Ireland will have to wait until 2030, with no guarantee but only a dream of reaching that tournament. The Icelandic manager gave Ireland hope as he did when managing his own nation to a notable win against England in Euro 2016. Heartbreak and disappointment met Ireland after the game in Prague, unfortunately, but future hope is not lost for sure.
If the team can replicate those performances against Portugal and Hungary in the future, who knows what lies in store for Ireland? However, improvements are undeniably needed. It will be interesting to see how the likes of players such as Dublin man Troy Parrott and Cork man Jake O’Brien flourish by Euro 2028, which Ireland will host alongside the UK.
Ireland’s Women’s Senior National Team could potentially make the 2027 Brazil World Cup with a play-off as a result of the Girls’ Nations League performances guaranteed, but their stance in their qualifying group will determine a more favourable opposition or not. Carla Ward’s side will face Poland on Tuesday, 14th April, as that side also holds on to the Irish dream of a World Cup.
Carla Ward announced her squad for the fixture on the 30th of March and included an uncapped league of Ireland player from Bohemian’s Women’s squad, Aoibhe Brennan. Perhaps Heimar Halgrimmson could call up players from the Men’s League of Ireland in a friendly arranged against Grenada in May. While League of Ireland players may struggle to make the competitive Irish National squad, there is certainly no harm in including players from a league that is slowly growing in strength for a friendly fixture.
In conclusion, it is heartbreaking that the Republic of Ireland did not make the 2026 edition of the World Cup after losing a 2-0 lead against the Czechs. Irish fans can move forward and hold onto their hope while watching the World Cup this summer and dream that a new generation will experience an Irish team competing in the tournament.
By: Scott Buckley / @ScottBuckley35
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Stephen McCarthy / Sportsfile