Sport
State of Play
Irish fans back England for the World Cup in surprise poll
Irish soccer fans are set to put old rivalries to one side ahead of the next World Cup, with new research revealing that 13% plan to support England during the tournament.
A poll of 1,500 sports fans in Ireland found that England is the team the highest proportion of Irish fans say they will back at the World Cup, ahead of Brazil (12%), Spain (8%), Scotland (6%) and Portugal (6%).
The findings form part of Ticketmaster’s latest snapshot of Irish sports fandom, which also shows that soccer remains the country’s most popular sport, with 71% of fans saying they follow it. Also very popular are Gaelic Games (49%) and rugby union (43%).
The data also points to a changing sporting landscape, with almost one in five (19%) football fans saying they have only become followers of the sport in the past two years. Rugby is also attracting fresh audiences, with 10% saying they have started following it more recently.
The research highlights just how committed Irish fans are to live sport. On average, they say they would be willing to travel 5 hours and 12 minutes to attend an international fixture, with more than one in ten (11%) prepared to travel for more than 10 hours to support their team.
Ticketmaster’s data shows a strong momentum behind women’s sport, with attendance at high-profile fixtures rising significantly in just three years – up 69.5% for soccer, 65.4% for rugby and 9.7% for Gaelic Games in 2025 versus comparable matches in 2022.
It is not just the fixture itself that matters either. Irish fans are increasingly looking for a more rounded matchday experience, with 36% saying premium stadium seating would enhance their enjoyment of live sport. Meanwhile, 33% would like in-seat food and drink ordering, and 30% say digital tickets would improve the live experience.
Ticketmaster’s data also points to a significant crossover between sport and entertainment, with 66% of sports fans also attending live music events – highlighting how today’s audiences increasingly move across different kinds of live experiences.
Keith English, Managing Director of Ticketmaster Ireland, said: “Sport plays a hugely important role in Irish life – it’s not just about what happens on the pitch, but the sense of community, identity and shared experience it creates for fans across the country. What we’re seeing in this latest research is just how deeply embedded that passion remains, with supporters willing to go the extra mile, quite literally, to be part of live moments.
It’s especially encouraging to see the continued rise of women’s sport, with more fans turning out for major fixtures than ever before – a clear sign that interest, visibility and support are all moving in the right direction.”
View the full Sport State of Play report to explore the trends shaping the future of live sport.
