‘Mini Christmas’ if Ireland qualifies for World Cup

Ireland qualifying for next year’s Fifa World Cup Finals in Russia would be a “mini Christmas” for local business around the country, boosting the local economies by millions.

Ireland qualifying for next year’s Fifa World Cup Finals in Russia would be a “mini Christmas” for local business around the country, boosting the local economies by millions, writes Pádraig Hoare.

That is according to various business groups, firms and financial lenders around the country, who said an Irish presence in the biggest sporting event in the world would boost SMEs and even job creation in the weeks that the team was in the 32-team finals next June and July.