Ireland brace for France in Tallaght as World Cup qualifying begins

“When France and Netherlands are on it, they can be completely unplayable," said Ireland head coach Carla Ward. “But when they’re not, there’s areas to exploit."

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026 - 06:00

John Fallon

Brazil’s Maracanã Stadium next year will seem a long way from Tallaght tonight when Ireland and France begin their World Cup qualification campaign with contrasting expectations.

Twenty places separating the nations in Fifa’s rankings goes some way to explaining the respective outlooks.

For France, an elusive first major trophy in July 2027 is the objective. Ireland’s purpose is simply regaining the ground they lost in 2024 by reaching a second successive global showpiece.

Uefa’s determination to glamourise the Nations League voids the campaign of jeopardy either on the first match night or the sixth in June.

France won’t mind if they’re pipped for the top spot in the group by the Netherlands. Only four nations will proceed to South America directly.

The remainder, a minimum of seven, possibly eight through an intercontinental minefield, will join them at the 32-team event.

Not until the next instalment, in 2031, will the tournament mirror the 48-team men’s version – also with USA at the centrepiece of co-hosting.

All 16 teams in what’s known as League A are guaranteed entry into the playoff series that comes after the regulation qualification later in the year. Each must navigate two ties, with the supposed easier route available to the higher placed finishers.

Nothing conveyed from the Irish camp since the draw emits notions of ending the series situated above Les Bleues.

It would be fanciful to consider Ireland would usurp a team packed with Champions League winners and a record of qualifying for five of the last six World Cups.

That they’ve garnered a reputation as chokers on the big stage won’t influence how this fixture unfolds.

Against the backdrop of the Dublin mountains, the French face an uphill struggle to convince the superpowers of Spain, England and Germany they’ve to worry about a Gallic threat.

It was supposed to crescendo into silverware on home turf at the Paris Olympics.

The enigmatic Hervé Renard shrugged off Ireland’s 3-1 victory at Pairc Uí Chaoimh on the pretence their priority was the Paris spectacle but they faltered again, losing to eventual runners-up Brazil at the quarter-final stage.

Renard’s assistant Laurent Bonadei was promoted to supremo, axed three legends in Eugénie Le Sommer, Wendie Renard and Kanza Dali. “If it’s not working, something has to be changed,” he argued against the outcry. The outcome didn’t change, as they crashed out to Germany, also in the quarters.

“It’s an interesting one,” Ireland manager Carla Ward noted about the disparity between France’s differing success for clubs and country.

“We’ll probably have this conversation in a few days about the Netherlands as well. They’re both teams that you wouldn’t argue against winning the World Cup but have fallen short in recent tournaments.

“When France and Netherlands are on it, they can be completely unplayable.

“But when they’re not, there’s areas to exploit. That’s what we’ve to pay attention to in both matches.”

Containment will be the tactical masterplan to upset the odds over the next five days.

Ward has admitted as much by narrowing the Tallaght pitch by a metre each side to comply with Fifa’s 64m minimum. She won’t be able to control the dimensions for the visit to Utrecht against the Dutch on Saturday night.

Back-to-back games against Poland in mid-April, the first away in Gdansk, will likely have a greater bearing on whether Ireland avoid a second successive bottom placed finish in the League A.

Early home games at Lansdowne Road against England (0-2) and Sweden (0-3) were chastening experiences for a squad that hasn’t changed much despite Ward succeeding Eileen Gleeson as manager.

Despite attracting what’s anticipated to be a record at 10,400-capacity Tallaght - 8,218 turned out for the 2024 friendly against Wales – those memories ought to temper the degree of freedom Ireland can indulge.

"We need to score goals - be more clinical going forward,” emphasised captain Katie McCabe.

"Apart from the Sweden game, when we went at them from the start, all of those qualifiers were tight. We need to pick up points by putting the ball in the back of the net.”

On her 102nd cap, McCabe’s left foot, including from deadballs, could well be the outlet Ireland rely on to disrupt the French connection.

Her contemporary Denise O’Sullivan will also find the space she devours to be restricted, amplifying that requirement to be optimal.

Such is the protective format that Ireland can afford to try to make their visitors feel blue.

Ireland’s 2027 Women's World Cup qualification League A2 fixtures:

Tuesday, March 3: Ireland v France, Tallaght Stadium.

Saturday, March 7: Netherlands v Ireland, Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht.

Tuesday, April 14: Poland v Ireland, Polsat Plus Arena, Gdańsk.

Saturday, April 18: Ireland v Poland, Lansdowne Road.

Friday, June 5: Ireland v Netherlands, Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Tuesday, June 9: France v Ireland, Stade des Alpes, Grenoble.