MNT Match Preview | Canada v Republic of Ireland

Republic of Ireland's Men's National Team take on Canada in Montreal tomorrow night in an international friendly at Stadium Sapoto. 
 
Heimir Hallgrímsson's side will be looking for another win on the back of last week’s win over Qatar at the Aviva Stadium when Nathan Collins’ goal secured the win. 

The match which is live on RTÉ2 is only the second time that Ireland will have faced Canada as the hosts play their final clash before hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

It is the final game for Ireland before their UEFA Nations League campaign which kicks off in September away to Kosovo. 
 
Match Details
 
Fixture: Canada v Ireland
Competition: International Friendly
Date: Friday, 5 June 2026
Kick-off: 19:30 (local time), 00:30 (Irish time)
Location: Stadium Saputo
 
Match Officials
 
* Referee - Pablo Camacho (CRC)
* Assistant Referee - William Chow (CRC)
* Assistant Referee 2 - Victor Ramirez (CRC)
* Fourth Official - Josue Ugalde (CRC)
 
Team News
 
Heimir Hallgrímsson has a full squad to choose from bar Owen Elding and Josh O’Dwyer as they are in the squad as training players.
 
MD-1 Press Conference v Canada
 
Republic of Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson said his side will be going out to win the game. 
 
"That's how we approach every match. Obviously our approach would be different in every game, given the players we have and the opponents we are playing. We think we have what it takes to win.

"I know it's big task and they want to prove themselves to their coach that they should be starters in their first World Cup match. This is a farewell for them into that tournament so there will be a big crowd supporting them. It is a challenge for us definitely, but we think we have what it takes to get a result."

 
Match Facts | Czechia v Republic of Ireland 
 

• The only previous match between Canada and the Republic of Ireland came in November 2003 at Lansdowne Road – Damien Duff scored once and Robbie Keane twice in a 3-0 friendly win for the Boys in Green.
• This will only be Canada’s second game played in Montréal across the last nine years (since 2018), losing to Australia in October last year – the Canadians have won four of six matches played in the city this century however (L2).
• Republic of Ireland are unbeaten in each of their last seven matches (W5 D2), recording as many victories in that time as across their 19 games prior; it is their best run since an eight-game spell between September 2021 and March 2022.  
• Republic of Ireland have scored five goals across their last two away games and could score multiple goals in three consecutive matches on the road for the first time since a four-match stretch between October 2006 and September 2007.
• 13 different players have made their Republic of Ireland debut so far in 2026 (10 across their last two games), the most different players to win their first cap for the Boys in Green in a calendar year since 2007 (16).
• Heimir Hallgrímsson has won 45% of his 20 matches in charge of Republic of Ireland (W9 D5 L6) – among those to manage more than two games for the nation, only Brian Kerr (55% - 18/33) and Jack Charlton (50% - 47/94) boast a better win rate.
• Troy Parrott has scored four goals across Republic of Ireland’s last two away games (3 vs Hungary, 1 vs Czechia) – the last player to net in three consecutive away appearances for the Boys in Green was Stephen Ireland between October 2006 and September 2007.  

 
Republic of Ireland Squad – Canada Friendly

Goalkeepers: Mark Travers (Everton), Ed McGinty (Shamrock Rovers), Conor Brann (Cork City)

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Jake O'Brien (Everton), Liam Scales (Celtic), James Abankwah (Watford), Corrie Ndaba (Lecce), Alex Murphy (Newcastle United).

Midfielders: Joe Hodge (Tondela), Killian Phillips (St. Mirren), Jamie McGrath (Hibernian), Conor Coventry (Charlton Athletic), Dawson Devoy (Bohemians), Matt Healy (Shamrock Rovers), Kian Leavy (St. Patrick’s Athletic) 

Attackers: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Mason Melia (Tottenham Hotspur), Jaden Umeh (Benfica), Adam Brennan (Shamrock Rovers), Chiedozie Ogbene (Ipswich Town).

Note: Owen Elding and Josh O'Dwyer are with the squad as training players only.