The dream of reaching a second consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup is burning bright for the Republic of Ireland. Following a thrilling League A qualifying group campaign, the Girls in Green have officially secured their spot in the play-offs as a seeded team.

Head Coach Carla Ward will travel to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, for the official draw on Thursday, June 18 at 11am (Irish Time), where Ireland will find out who stands between them and a ticket to the global stage. The draw is set to be streamed live on the UEFA website. 

A Campaign to Remember: How Ireland Secured Third

Ireland’s journey through a gruelling League A group was nothing short of heroic. Competing against Europe's elite, the team showcased incredible growth over the last year to lock down a crucial third-place finish.

The backbone of the campaign featured standout, back-to-back victories over a highly-competitive Poland side, proving Ireland's ability to consistently grind out results with a 3-2 win away from home followed by a 1-0 win at the Aviva Stadium. 

However, the defining moment of the qualifiers came in an unforgettable, breathless encounter at Pairc Ui Chaoimh against a powerhouse Netherlands side. In what will go down as one of the most famous nights in Irish women's football history, the Girls in Green battled to a spectacular 3-2 victory, with a dramatic last-minute winner from Amber Barrett in a five-goal thriller. 

Play-Off Round 1: The First Obstacle

Because of their third-place finish in League A, Ireland enters the play-offs as a seeded team in Round 1 (Path 1). This is an great position to be in, ensuring they avoid heavyweights like England and Sweden in the opening stage, while also guaranteeing they will play the crucial second-leg match at home.

Ireland will be drawn against one of the unseeded teams from League C, which includes:

- Hungary, Greece, Romania, Belarus, Kosovo, Lithuania, Croatia, or Kazakhstan.

Looking Ahead: Who Awaits in Round 2

Should the Girls in Green advance past their League C opponents, they will head into Play-Off Round 2, where the competition intensifies.

UEFA's draw format dictates that the eight winners from Path 1 (the League A elites) will be drawn directly against the eight winners from Path 2. For Ireland, this means their final obstacle on the road to Brazil will come from a pool of competitive League A and League B squads.

If they successfully navigate Round 1, Ireland's potential Round 2 opponents will be the winners of ties featuring Path 2 teams such as:

- Seeded in Path 2: Slovenia, Poland, Serbia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Portugal, Scotland, or Wales.
- Unseeded in Path 2: Finland, Belgium, Türkiye, Czechia, Albania, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, or Israel.

The good news for Ireland is that as a Path 1 winner, they would remain a seeded team for the Round 2 draw, once again guaranteeing they would host the decisive second-leg match on home soil.

The Ultimate Goal

32 teams enter the play-offs, competing in two rounds of home-and-away knockout ties. Ultimately, the seven best-ranked Round 2 winners according to the overall qualifiers ranking will book a direct flight to Brazil, while the eighth winner will enter the inter-confederation play-offs in February 2027.

Important Dates

- The Draw | Thursday, June 18, 2026 | Seeded (Round 1, Path 1)
- Play-Off Round 1 | October 7–13, 2026 | 2-legged tie (Second leg at home)
- Play-Off Round 2 | Nov 26 – Dec 5, 2026 | 2-legged tie (Seeded if Ireland advances)

What Comes Next?

While the potential pathways and opponents will be set in stone on Thursday afternoon, fans will have to wait just a little longer to map out their travel plans. The final fixture schedule— including exact kick-off times and venue confirmations — won't be locked in straight away. UEFA and the respective national associations will confirm those details in due course following the draw.