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Republic of Ireland WNT: Route to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup
While we wait to find out whether the MNT will qualify for the World Cup in USA, Canada and Mexico this summer, let's take a look at how the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team can qualify for next year's World Cup in Brazil.
Republic of Ireland WNT were placed into UEFA European Qualifiers Group A2 at the draw back in November. Drawn alongside Ireland were top seeds France, Netherlands, currently ranked 11th in the world, and Poland.
Fixtures
Republic of Ireland WNT v France
Tallaght Stadium, Dublin | Tuesday 3 March | 7:30pm
Carla Ward and her squad kick off their qualifying campaign against France at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday 3 March. France sit at 6th in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings and came into the UEFA European Qualifiers league stage draw as the top seeded team. Les Bleues bowed out in the Quarter Finals of last year’s European Championships. It was the qualifying stage of that competition that saw the two sides face each other last, with Republic of Ireland emerging victorious in a famous 3-1 win at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
The reverse fixture will be the last of the league stage for both teams, taking place on 9 June in France.
Republic of Ireland WNT v Poland
Aviva Stadium, Dublin | Saturday 18 April | 3:00pm
Ireland will then go on the road for back to back fixtures, first against Netherlands on 7 March and then Poland on 14 April.
The team may well be catching the same flight as their April opponents as they welcome the Polish side to Ireland in the same international break, with the return game set for Saturday 18 April. The game will mark the Women’s National Team’s return to the Aviva, their sixth appearance in the home of Irish football. The two sides have only faced each other four times before, with Republic of Ireland winning two of those, including their most recent meeting, in 2022 when two second half goals saw them to a 2-1 win.
Republic of Ireland WNT v Netherlands
The girls will wrap up their home fixtures for this stage with a visit to Cork. Páirc Uí Chaoimh will host the game against the Netherlands. The venue has played host to two previous Republic of Ireland WNT games, first, the aforementioned win against France in 2024, and then again in a 1-0 win against Slovenia last year. The Girls In Green will be hoping the ground will go 3-for-3 as a lucky charm when the Dutch come to town.
FIND ALL REPUBLIC OF IRELAND HOME FIXTURES HERE >>>
How Do Republic of Ireland Qualify?
UEFA has been given an allocation of 11 places in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. However, one additional team can qualify through FIFA’s intercontinental play-offs.
The UEFA European Qualifiers league stage contains three sections. League A, League B and League C. Each of the four group winners from League A will qualify for the World Cup. Once the league stage has concluded, there will be two rounds of play-offs.
Round 1
The second and third placed teams in League A groups will be sorted into Path 1, where they will be drawn against the six group winners and the two best-ranked second-placed teams from League C. The fourth-placed team in League A groups will be sorted into Path 2, where they will be drawn against the four second-placed teams and four third-placed teams from League B. Should Ireland be sorted into either path, as a League A team, they will be seeded and will play the second leg of their draw at home.
Round 2
Upon winning their Round 1 draw, Ireland will then be placed into Round 2, where the Path 1 teams are drawn against the Path 2 teams, with Path 1 teams receiving seeding and playing the second leg of their draw at home.
The top seven-ranked Round 2 winners according to the 2026 Women’s European Qualifiers overall league rankings will qualify for the World Cup. The remaining team will be placed into FIFA’s intercontinental play-off.
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