Republic of Ireland were drawn against Czechia in the FIFA World Cup play-off semi-final at FIFA HQ, Zurich last week with the fixture due to be played on Thursday, March 26, with kick-off at 7.45pm.  

If they were to progress to the final, they will play either Denmark or North Macedonia at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, March 21, with kick-off at 7.45pm.  

With the teams confirmed, we look back at our historical record against the three nations we could face: Czech Republic, Denmark and North Macedonia. Decades of meetings offer a fascinating mixture of famous wins, tight qualifiers and memorable moments home and away. 

Republic of Ireland v Czechia – 20 matches since 1938 

Ireland’s history with the Czechs stretches all the way back to 1938, with the fixture providing some of the most varied results in our international story. In total, Ireland have met Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic/Czechia 20 times, competing across World Cup qualifiers, European qualifiers, friendlies and tournaments. 

P20 | W6 | D4 | L10 

• 1938 – First meeting: A 2–2 draw in Prague. 

• 1959 – Early landmark victory: A 2–0 win in Dublin in Euro 1960 qualifying. 

• 1967 – One of Ireland’s best away qualifiers: A 2–1 win in Prague during Euro 1968 qualifying. 

• 1981 – Home win under Eoin Hand: A 3–1 victory in Dublin. 

• 1994–2004 friendlies: A mix of competitive games, including a strong 2–1 win in 2004. 

• 2006–2007 – Euro 2008 campaign: A 1–1 draw at home followed by a narrow 1–0 loss away. 

• 2012 – Most recent meeting: A 1–1 draw in Dublin. 

Ireland’s record is competitive across eras, with several strong home wins and notable away results. The Czechs have often been one of Europe’s most technically gifted sides, but Ireland have historically matched them physically and tactically in key qualifiers. 

Republic of Ireland v Denmark – Draws dominate the occasion 

Few nations have been as regular an opponent for Ireland in recent decades as Denmark. The two teams have met 18 times, including the recent World Cup play-off battles and a long stretch of Nations League and Euro qualifiers where margins were consistently tight. 

P18 | W4 | D9 | L5 

• 1956–1957 – First encounters: Ireland won both games in the 1958 World Cup qualifiers. 

• 1978–1979 – Euro 1980 campaign: A thrilling 3–3 draw in Copenhagen followed by a 2–0 home win. 

• 1984–1985 – Denmark’s golden generation: Two defeats in the 1986 World Cup qualifiers. 

• Early ’90s – World Cup ’94 qualifiers: Two low-scoring draws home and away. 

• 2017 – Famous play-off: A 0–0 draw in Copenhagen followed by a 5–1 defeat at home in Dublin. 

• 2018–2019 – Nations League & Euro 2020 qualifiers: Five meetings in 18 months — four draws and one narrow defeat, demonstrating just how evenly matched the sides have been in recent years. 

Republic of Ireland v North Macedonia – Strong record against the Balkan side 

Ireland’s record against North Macedonia is shorter but positive, with six competitive meetings — all in World Cup or European Championship qualifying campaigns. 

P6 | W4 | D1 | L1 

• 1996 – First meeting: A 3–0 home win in Dublin. 

• 1997 – Only defeat: A narrow 3–2 loss away in Skopje. 

• 1999 – Euro 2000 qualifiers: A 1–0 home win and 1–1 away draw. 

• 2011 – Euro 2012 qualifiers: A strong double over Macedonia — 2–1 at home and 2–0 away — helping Ireland reach the play-offs for the 2012 Euros. 

Ireland’s results against North Macedonia have been consistently strong, with four wins in six matches. Despite a high-scoring defeat in 1997, the fixture has traditionally favoured the Boys in Green. 

Competitive Record: Ireland v Czechia, Denmark & North Macedonia 

P44 | W14 | D14 | L16 

The historical numbers show Ireland have enjoyed key victories against every side in the past — as we look for two more historic wins to add to the record in March.