The opportunity to secure promotion to League A in the UEFA Nations League comes in front of the Ireland Women’s National Team as they take on Belgium on Friday night.

The first leg of a Promotion / Relegation Play-Off will see Carla Ward lead her team out for their fifth appearance in the Aviva Stadium, with kick-off set for 19:00.

After finishing second in League B, Group 2 – just behind Slovenia on goal difference – Ireland can still move up to League A should they overcome Belgium, who finished third in League A, Group 3.

The tie will be played over two legs: first leg in Dublin on Friday, October 24th, second leg in Leuven on Tuesday, October 28th. Should the aggregate scores remain level after the two games, extra-time will be played followed by a penalty shoot-out if required.

The game will be broadcast live on RTÉ2 and on the RTÉ Player.

MATCH DETAILS
UEFA Nations League 
Promotion / Relegation Play-Off, First Leg
Ireland v Belgium
Friday, October 24th
Aviva Stadium
KO 19:00
LIVE on RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player

TEAM NEWS
Defender Anna Patten is suspended for this game but Ireland otherwise have a full squad to select from.

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee | Franziska Wildfeuer (Germany)
Assistant Referee 1 | Daniela Göttlinger (Germany)
Assistant Referee 2 | Anne Uersfeld (Germany)
Fourth Official | Riem Hussein (Germany)

PREVIOUS MEETINGS
27/10/1980 | Ireland 1-0 Belgium | International Friendly | Dalymount Park, Dublin
17/10/1981 | Belgium 4-1 Ireland | International Friendly | Heysel Stadium, Brussels
31/03/1996 | Ireland 0-1 Belgium | UEFA EURO Qualifier | Dalymount Park, Dublin
04/05/1996 | Belgium 5-1 Ireland | UEFA EURO Qualifier | Regenboogstadion, Waregem
20/02/2019 | Belgium 1-0 Ireland | International Friendly | Pinatar Arena, Spain
11/04/2021 | Belgium 1-0 Ireland | International Friendly | King Boudouin Stadium, Brussels

NOTES
- There are currently seven places between Belgium (20) and Ireland (27) in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.

- Defender Hayley Nolan made her Ireland WNT debut in the last meeting between the teams in April 2021.

- Referee Franziska Wildfeuer was in charge for the UEFA Nations League victory over Greece in Tallaght Stadium in April 2025.

IRELAND WNT SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Sunderland), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Katie Keane (Leicester City)

Defenders: Heather Payne (Leicester City), Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Jessie Stapleton (Nottingham Forest – on loan), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Izzy Atkinson (Sunderland), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)

Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Ruesha Littlejohn (Crystal Palace), Jamie Finn (Sunderland), Tyler Toland (Durham), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Jess Ziu (Bristol City – on loan), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United), Saoirse Noonan (Celtic) 

IRELAND WNT PLAYER STATS
Goalkeepers
Grace Moloney | DOB 01/03/1993 | 7 caps / 2 clean sheets | Debut vs Austria 02/03/2016 
Sophie Whitehouse | DOB 10/10/1996 | 0 caps / 0 clean sheets 
Katie Keane | DOB 27/07/2006 | 0 caps / 0 clean sheets

Defenders
Heather Payne | DOB 26/01/2000 | 51 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs Scotland 17/07/2017
Aoife Mannion | DOB 24/09/1995 | 16 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs China PR 22/02/2023
Jessie Stapleton | DOB 07/02/2005 | 17 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs Philippines 19/06/2022 
Anna Patten | DOB 20/04/1999 | 18 caps / 3 goals | Debut vs France 05/04/2024
Caitlin Hayes | DOB 22/09/1995 | 24 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs Northern Ireland 23/09/2023 
Hayley Nolan | DOB 07/03/1997 | 4 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Belgium 16/04/2021
Chloe Mustaki | DOB 29/07/1995 | 10 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Russia 19/02/2022
Izzy Atkinson | DOB 17/07/2001 | 20 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Portugal 21/01/2018
Katie McCabe | DOB 21/09/1995 | 98 caps / 29 goals | Debut vs Hungary 04/03/2015

Midfielders
Denise O’Sullivan | DOB 04/02/1994 | 125 caps / 21 goals | Debut vs Cymru 17/09/2011
Ruesha Littlejohn | DOB 03/07/1990 | 91 caps / 6 goals | Debut vs Hungary 07/03/2012 
Tyler Toland | DOB 08/08/2001 | 25 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Northern Ireland 19/09/2017
Marissa Sheva | DOB 22/04/1997 | 18 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs China PR 22/02/2023
Jamie Finn | DOB 21/04/1998 | 20 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Greece 12/11/2019
Jess Ziu | DOB 06/06/2002 | 18 caps / 0 goals | Debut vs Northern Ireland 31/08/2018
Lucy Quinn | DOB 29/09/1993 | 31 caps / 5 goals | Debut vs Australia 21/09/2021​​​​​​​

Forwards
Kyra Carusa | DOB 14/11/1995 | 38 caps / 11 goals | Debut vs Montenegro 11/03/2020 
Amber Barrett | DOB 10/01/1996 | 55 caps / 9 goals | Debut vs Cymru 19/08/2016
Abbie Larkin | DOB 27/04/2005 | 29 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Russia 19/02/2022 
Emily Murphy | DOB 02/03/2003 | 11 caps / 1 goal | Debut vs Cymru 27/02/2024
​​​​​​​Saoirse Noonan | DOB 13/07/1999 | 9 caps / 2 goals | Debut vs Cymru 21/08/2016