The Republic of Ireland welcome Armenia to the Aviva Stadium tonight for a FIFA World Cup qualifier, knowing that only a victory will keep their destiny in their own hands.

While Armenia arrive in Dublin following a 2-0 defeat to Hungary in Budapest, Ireland will take heart from a positive and resilient performance against Portugal on Saturday, despite a narrow 1-0 loss in the final moments of the match.

The team will be backed by a huge home crowd, with over 45,000 tickets already sold. A late surge in demand has seen general admission tickets selling fast, and supporters are urged to act quickly to secure their seat for this vital qualifier.

Match Details

Fixture: Republic of Ireland v Armenia 
Competition: FIFA World Cup 26 Qualifying
Date: Tuesday, October 14
Location: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 7.45pm
TV: RTE
Tickets: Purchase your ticket here

Match Officials

Referee: Benoīt Bastien (FRA)
Assistant Referee 1: Hicham Zakrani (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Aurélien Berthomieu (FRA)
Fourth Official: Stéphanie Frappart (FRA)
Video Assistant Referee: Eric Wattellier (FRA)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Bert Put (BEL)

Team News

Heimir Hallgrímsson will be forced into at least one change from the team that started in Lisbon, as Josh Cullen is suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the campaign. Charlton Athletic's Conor Coventry has been called into the squad as his replacement. Liam Scales remains unavailable for the fixture. The rest of the squad is fully fit, with all players taking part in the final training session at the FAI National Training Centre this morning.

MD-1 Press Conference v Armenia | Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson

“I've always been honest with you, I believe in this team. I think this team has everything to qualify for the World Cup.

“We are not maybe the favourites in the group at the moment, but a win tomorrow would change that. And I believe that we are going to do that.

“If you have seen the last game from Armenia where they went to Hungary, we know that it's a good team. Hungary was lucky to go away with the win, even at 1-0.

“Armenia had lots of good opportunities to punish and it's just a good team. So never ever anyone here underestimate Armenia.”

MD-1 Press Conference v Armenia | Captain Nathan Collins

“There’ll be spells when they have a good bit of the ball and we have stay in our shape and make it hard for them and put them in places where they don’t what to go.

“We have so much pace where we can counterattack from that. Being solid and starting from the back is how we win the game - if we don’t concede we give ourselves a great chance.

“There was belief that we could go to Portugal and get a result and put in a good performance and that we are a good team with good players and we can create stuff and hurt teams in our own way.

“It’s going to be a different game against Armenia but we still have to have that inner belief that we can go and score goals.”

Match Stats - Republic of Ireland v Armenia

- Republic of Ireland have won both of their previous home matches against Armenia, beating them 2-1 in October 2011 and 3-2 in September 2022.
- Following their 2-1 win over the Republic of Ireland earlier this year, Armenia are looking to win home and away against an opponent in a World Cup qualifying campaign for just the second time, doing so against Andorra in 2006 World Cup qualifying.
- Republic of Ireland are winless in their last six home World Cup qualifiers (D4 L2), with their last four on home soil all ending as draws.
- Armenia have won just two of their last 25 away matches across all competitions (D6 L17), along with keeping just one clean sheet in this period (0-0 v North Macedonia in September 2021).
- Republic of Ireland are on a five-game streak without a win across all competitions (D3 L2), last suffering a longer run between November 2019 and March 2021 (12 games), which included no victories through Stephen Kenny’s first 11 matches in charge.
- Evan Ferguson has scored in each of the last three home games he has started in for the Republic of Ireland (three goals). The last player to score in four consecutive home starts was Robbie Keane, who did so between June 2013 and October 2014 (a run of five).
- Eduard Spertsyan netted the opener the last time these two sides met (Armenia 2-1 Republic of Ireland in September), while he led all Armenia players in their previous match (v Hungary) for chances created (2), completed dribbles (3), duels won (9) and fouls won (3).
- Séamus Coleman could make his 75th appearance for the Republic of Ireland (currently on 74 caps). Should he do so, he would be the first defender to reach this milestone for the Boys in Green since Richard Dunne in June 2012 (v Spain).

Republic of Ireland Squad - Portugal & Armenia

Goalkeepers: Caoimhín Kelleher (Brentford), Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), Mark Travers (Everton)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O'Shea (Ipswich Town), Jimmy Dunne (QPR), John Egan (Hull City), Ryan Manning (Southampton), Will Ferry (Dundee United). 

Midfielders: Will Smallbone (Millwall), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Finn Azaz (Southampton), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic).

Attackers: Evan Ferguson (AS Roma), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United), Festy Ebosele (İstanbul Başakşehir), Kasey McAteer (Ipswich Town).

October FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

Result: Portugal 1-0 Republic of Ireland | Estádio José Alvalade
Fixture: Republic of Ireland vs Armenia | Aviva Stadium, 7.45pm