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Heimir Hallgrímsson dejected after the match 26/3/2026

'It's sad to talk about the Euros, but that's our job now' says Hallgrímsson

Even the prospect of home advantage at a major tournament come 2028 carried a limited appeal as Prague emptied and shattered dreams made their way home.

Sat, 28 Mar, 2026

Shamrock Rovers v Galway United - SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division

World Cup 2030 campaign - how will Ireland's team look for the next tilt?

Here, we reach for the crystal ball to prophesise who are the contenders to be leading Ireland’s charge for that tilt at the start of 2029

Sat, 28 Mar, 2026

S Tommy Martin: We haven't yet reached the limits of Heimirball

Even as North Macedonian booby prize looms and the serious talk resumes, more parrot mask-wearing, Pink Pony Club-singing, morning pint-queueing days are surely on the way.

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Debora Barker consoles Ben Brody during the penalty shoot-out 26/3/2026

Ireland v North Macedonia tickets for sale after Prague penalties end World Cup dream

Tuesday's fixture in the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, is now a 'dead rubber' as both sides crashed out of contention for World Cup 2026

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

The Ireland team during the penalty shoot-out 26/3/2026

Record 1.6 million people watched Prague penalty pain

Ireland’s World Cup play-off misery in Prague was the most watched TV programme of the year so far

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Nathan Collins dejected after the match 26/3/2026

Nathan Collins: 'I'm not seeing many positives right now because we’re in the gutter'

Ireland captain Collins said it was heartbreaking to lose the World Cup playoff semi-final to Czechia after his side played so well

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Republic of Ireland - FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers Play-off Semi-Final

Ireland player ratings against Czechia: Manning's error as untimely as it was costly

Heartbreak for the Irish, but most can walk away with heads held high

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

The Ireland team dejected after losing to the penalty shootout 26/3/2026

What's next for Ireland after World Cup despair in Prague?

What does 2026 now have in store for Heimir Hallgrímsson's men?

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

World Cup 2026: which countries have qualified and how did they do it?

No Ireland unfortunately, but we now know 42 of the 48 of the teams that will play next year, but a few prized remaining places remain up for grabs in the final round of play offs

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Troy Parrott dejected after the match 26/3/2026

Troy Parrott: 'Please stick with us at times like this'

Striker says: “It is times like this, where I'm so, so happy, where I come from" after Ireland's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Jimmy Dunne with his mother Sharon after the match 26/3/2026

Prague post-mortem podcast: Ireland's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak

Brendan O'Brien and John Fallon react to shootout pain for the Boys in Green in Prague.

Listen | Fri, 27 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Ireland: Four talking points after heartbreak in Prague

Ireland took a commanding 2-0 lead at the Fortuna Arena, but then the tide began to turn

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Heimir Hallgrímsson applauds fans after the game 26/3/2026

'Just pain, we only feel pain': Heimir Hallgrimsson gutted but vows Ireland will 'start again'

The Iceland native saw his side's campaign end in heartbreak after a penalty shootout loss in Prague.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Playoff Wrap: Danes demolish North Macedonia, Gyokeres nets hat-trick to help Sweden progress

In the other playoff games, Poland came from behind to beat Albania 2-1 and reach the playoff finals, with Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski netting ‌second-half goals to set up a Path B decider away to Sweden on Tuesday

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Finn Azaz dejected after losing to the penalty shootout 26/3/2026

Without doubt, this World Cup play-off is one that got away for Ireland

The biggest show on earth remains half the world away for the Boys in Green after Ireland's heartbreaking defeat in Prague.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

S World Cup slips from grasp but Ireland have finally found the finisher they've been waiting for

The history books will say that Troy Parrott’s efforts didn’t get Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side to the United States in the summer of 2026; but, boy, he made it an exciting ride – and turned his career, and Irish expectations, around in the process.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Ireland TV review: nervous pundits and selfies with Ronnie

The Boys in Green saw their campaign come to an end in Prague on Thursday night.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Penalty pain again as Ireland World Cup road ends in Prague

Misses by Finn Azaz and Alan Browne proved costly after the Czechs recovered from 2-0 down.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Italy v Northern Ireland - FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-off Semi-Final

Northern Ireland's World Cup dream shattered by play-off defeat to Italy

Northern Ireland battled superbly against an Italy side under immense pressure to deliver qualification after two consecutive failures to reach a tournament they have won four times, but were undone by second-half goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Czechia v Ireland: World Cup road ends in despair after penalty shootout defeat

Czechia came from two down to defeat Ireland on penalties in the World Cup playoff.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

A view of Ireland fans in the Old Town Square ahead of the match 26/3/2026

'We're pretty hopeful': Irish fans predict the Czechia v Ireland result

A win against Czechia would set up a playoff final against Denmark or North Macedonia with a spot in the summer's World Cup finals on the line

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Watch: 'We're in the Czech end, say nothing' - Irish fans on World Cup hopes and ticket hunt

Brendan O'Brien is amongst the thousands of travelling Irish supporters in Prague.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

S Golden times for Irish sport – and the Irish abroad show the best version of ourselves

We’re spoiled, but all that success would add up to a banquet without a main course if the Republic of Ireland men’s senior team wasn’t able to bring something of its own to the table

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

S From schoolboy hat-trick to Hungary heroics — how Troy Parrott became Ireland’s clutch striker

From school finals heroics to international drama, coaches and scouts recall the early promise behind Ireland striker’s rise

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

S The Heimir Hallgrimsson interview: 'I’ve told them the future of Irish football is in their hands'

Since November's Budapest bedlam, he's been far and away, but Hallgrimsson is locked and loaded now on next month's World Cup playoffs. In a rare one-on-one interview, he sat down with Irish Examiner football correspondent John Fallon.

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

FIFA WORLD CUP

Drink in the jeopardy of Tuesday's World Cup playoffs - it’s the last we’ll get for a bit

Chiedozie Ogbene on vital Czech peno: 'It was a minimal tug, but that's enough nowadays'

Paul Hosford: State must provide the facilities for sporting stars of the future

Can Coleman become second-oldest outfield player in Euros history?

'It’s like a car crash, best to drive again': Hallgrímsson retains squad for dead rubber

In Prague, we experienced a heartbreaking illustration of who we are

LATEST WORLD CUP ARTICLES

'It's sad to talk about the Euros, but that's our job now' says Hallgrímsson

World Cup 2030 campaign - how will Ireland's team look for the next tilt?

S Tommy Martin: We haven't yet reached the limits of Heimirball

Ireland v North Macedonia tickets for sale after Prague penalties end World Cup dream

Record 1.6 million people watched Prague penalty pain

Nathan Collins: 'I'm not seeing many positives right now because we’re in the gutter'

Ireland player ratings against Czechia: Manning's error as untimely as it was costly

What's next for Ireland after World Cup despair in Prague?

World Cup 2026: which countries have qualified and how did they do it?

Troy Parrott: 'Please stick with us at times like this'

Prague post-mortem podcast: Ireland's World Cup dream ends in heartbreak

Czechia v Ireland: Four talking points after heartbreak in Prague

'Just pain, we only feel pain': Heimir Hallgrimsson gutted but vows Ireland will 'start again'

Playoff Wrap: Danes demolish North Macedonia, Gyokeres nets hat-trick to help Sweden progress

Without doubt, this World Cup play-off is one that got away for Ireland

S World Cup slips from grasp but Ireland have finally found the finisher they've been waiting for

Czechia v Ireland TV review: nervous pundits and selfies with Ronnie

Penalty pain again as Ireland World Cup road ends in Prague

Northern Ireland's World Cup dream shattered by play-off defeat to Italy

Czechia v Ireland: World Cup road ends in despair after penalty shootout defeat

'We're pretty hopeful': Irish fans predict the Czechia v Ireland result

Watch: 'We're in the Czech end, say nothing' - Irish fans on World Cup hopes and ticket hunt

S Golden times for Irish sport – and the Irish abroad show the best version of ourselves

S From schoolboy hat-trick to Hungary heroics — how Troy Parrott became Ireland’s clutch striker

S The Heimir Hallgrimsson interview: 'I’ve told them the future of Irish football is in their hands'

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