Republic of Ireland Fall to France but Secure Play-off Spot with Pride
A narrow 1-0 defeat to France in Grenoble ended the Republic of Ireland's hopes of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but the team's gritty campaign has set up a seeded play-off berth and earned widespread respect.
Managed by Carla Ward, the Republic finished third in a daunting League A group containing France, Netherlands, and Poland. Despite being the bottom seeds and tipped for relegation, they recorded three wins—including a sensational victory over the Netherlands in Cork—and three losses, becoming the first promoted side to avoid immediate relegation from League A.
After the match, Ward expressed both pride and frustration. "I'm incredibly proud of this group," she told RTE. "France are a top, top side, and the fact we are here disappointed tells you an awful lot about where we are." She added that the team has grown throughout the campaign and is in a good place heading into the October play-offs.
The Republic will be seeded in the play-off draw on 18 June, and their performances—including double wins over Poland and a narrow loss to France—make them a team to avoid. With a chance to reach the tournament in Brazil, Ward believes the team's journey is far from over. "The World Cup needs this group," she said.
For now, the focus is on the autumn play-offs, where the Republic of Ireland will hope to turn pain into progress and book their ticket to Brazil.