Match Preview | Luxembourg v Republic of Ireland

Jun 9 2025

Republic of Ireland will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run in 2025 as they face Luxembourg, the final game before the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying begins in September.

Ireland will go into the game on the back of their impressive 1-1 draw against Senegal on Friday night at the Aviva Stadium as Kasey McAteer's first goal for Ireland in a Player of the Match performance helped secure a draw.

Ireland return to the Stade de Luxembourg for the first time since November 2021 where Ireland were 3-0 winners as Shane Duffy, Chiedozie Ogbene and Callum Robinson all scored for the boys in green.

Match Details

Fixture: Luxembourg v Republic of Ireland
Competition: International Friendly
Date: Tuesday, June 10
Kick-off: 7.45pm (8.45pm local time)
Location: Stade de Luxembourg
TV: RTE

Match Officials

Referee: Stefan Ebner (AUT)
Assistant Referee 1: Martin Höfler (AUT)
Assistant Referee 2: Mattias Hartl (AUT)
Fourth official: Christopher Jaeger (AUT)

Team News

There are injury concerns over Josh Honohan and Jack Taylor for tomorrow's international friendly against Luxembourg but both players trained in the MD-1 training earlier today. All other players trained and will be in contention for the fixture, including Bosun Lawal who was added to the squad on Sunday after the draw against Senegal.

Press Conference | Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson

“It comes because we are saying the same thing over and over again – probably boring for the players to listen to because we are saying the same thing over and over – and I have said before, basics first before details. Basics before details.

“The excitement comes from that. We can feel that we are growing every time we play, like how comfortable we were against Senegal.

“That’s one step taken. We can have the same against Luxembourg, so it shouldn’t be up and down performances, it should be consistent performance. That is what we need. I watched the Sweden game when they played here – they beat Sweden 1-0, they could have scored more goals against Sweden. I know a little bit about them, and the strength of Sweden, so I wouldn’t look at it as a shock to the nation if we would not get a good result here.

“It’s that good a team that a win here would be really good for us at this stage. I hope nobody is taking them lightly, if that is the right word to say.”

Press Conference | Ireland captain Nathan Collins

"I think a lot of people said I think Senegal was a really big step. I think everyone seen we, we felt comfortable in the game, you know, we looked comfortable as well within our shape. I think everybody knew their role to a very high degree of it, and you could see it, it showed on the pitch. And it's just about growing that, it's about pushing that again, it's about just keep getting better. And we're fortunate now we're building a squad where players are challenging other players, so you have to be at your best.

"We have Luxembourg tomorrow, and that's preparation for it. So that's the main thing at the moment, but that will come around quickly, you know, the World Cup qualifiers, but we just want to put in a good, another good result, gain more momentum, and just keep trying to get better as a team."

Watch the MD-1 press conference in full here

Opta Facts - Luxembourg v Republic of Ireland

● Luxembourg have won one and lost six of their seven meetings with Republic of Ireland in all competitions, with that victory coming during a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier (1-0).
● Republic of Ireland have won all four of their away matches against Luxembourg in all competitions, scoring 11 goals and conceding just one.
● Luxembourg have won just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions (D3 L7), beating Sweden 1-0 in a friendly back in March.
● Republic of Ireland won 2-1 at Bulgaria in their last away match, last winning back-to-back away games in November 2021, the second of which was against Luxembourg.
● Republic of Ireland have lost just two of their last 41 matches in all competitions against sides ranked 90th or lower in the FIFA World Rankings (W33 D6), with Luxembourg currently 91st. However, one of those defeats came against Luxembourg, losing 1-0 at home in March 2021.
● Unbeaten in their last three games, Republic of Ireland are looking to go four without defeat for the first time since a run of eight between September 2021 and March 2022.
● Kasey McAteer scored on his first start for Republic of Ireland against Senegal last time out. The last player to score in his first two starts for the Boys in Green was Stephen Ireland in February 2007.
● Evan Ferguson has scored five goals in 21 appearances for Republic of Ireland (14 starts), with only Robbie Keane (7) and David Connolly (6) netting more for the Boys in Green before turning 21. However, four of his five goals have come in home games.

Republic of Ireland Squad - Luxembourg

Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Liverpool), Max O'Leary (Bristol City), Josh Keeley (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Andrew Omobamidele (Nottingham Forest), Liam Scales (Celtic), Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Josh Honohan (Shamrock Rovers)

Midfielders: Jason Knight (Bristol City), Killian Phillips (St. Mirren), Will Smallbone (Southampton), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), John Joe Patrick Finn (Stade De Reims), Andrew Moran (Brighton and Hove Albion), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City)

Forwards: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Adam Idah (Celtic), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Festy Ebosele (Istanbul Basaksehir), Ryan Manning (Southampton)

Result/Fixture