The Ireland Women’s National Team squad has been confirmed for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Round 1 Play-Off against Kazakhstan.

Head Coach Carla Ward has selected 25 players for the two-legged tie that starts in Astana on Friday, October 9th ahead of a return to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork for the second leg on Tuesday, October 13th.

SECURE YOUR SEAT FOR IRELAND VS KAZAKHSTAN

The winners of the tie will advance to Round 2 to take on either Belgium or Poland to secure a place at the World Cup in Brazil.

Captain Katie McCabe and midfielder Marissa Sheva are both suspended for the first leg, while Denise O’Sullivan will not travel with the squad to Astana. The duo of Tara O’Hanlon (hamstring) and Saoirse Noonan (ankle) are unavailable.

Leicester City defender Heather Payne returns for the first time since the UEFA Nations League Promotion / Relegation Play-Off against Belgium in October 2025.

There is a first call-up for Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft, who qualifies through her Grandmother Nora Hopcroft, who hails from Tubbercurry, Sligo.

Ireland have played Kazakhstan twice previously at senior women’s level, winning both FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers in 2009 with a scoreline of 2-1.

The second leg game in Cork will be the WNT’s fourth in Páirc UÍ Chaoimh and the first since the 3-2 victory over Netherlands in June.

Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Southampton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)

Defenders: Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Heather Payne (Leicester City), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jessie Stapleton (Leicester City), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Katie McCabe (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Denise O’Sullivan (Gotham FC), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Watford), Jamie Finn (Burnley), Lucy Quinn (Sheffield United), Tyler Toland (Burnley), Jess Ziu (Leicester City), Shanade Hopcroft (Crystal Palace)

Forwards: Kyra Carusa (HB Køge), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Emily Murphy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Leanne Kiernan (Newcastle United)

2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Round 1 Play-Off
Kazakhstan v Ireland
First Leg
Friday, October 9th
Astana Arena, Kazakhstan
KO 12:00 (Irish Time)
LIVE on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player

Ireland v Kazakhstan
Second Leg
Tuesday, October 13th
Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
KO 19:30
LIVE on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player