Serbia to start for Republic of Ireland as World Cup qualifier schedule revealed

Ireland will also face Qatar twice in non-competitive games

Ireland's Jeff Hendrick scores at the Stadion Rajko Mitic, Belgrade, in 2016. This will be the second time in successive World Cup campaigns that Ireland kick off in the Balkan country. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

The Republic of Ireland's road to the next World Cup will start in Serbia while 2022 hosts Qatar have been added to Group A on a non-competitive basis.

This will be the second time in successive World Cup campaigns that Ireland kick off in the Balkan country. Martin O'Neill's side claimed a 2-2 draw in Belgrade back in September of 2016 but defeat to the Serbs in Dublin meant they had to settle for second place and a playoff they ultimately lost to Denmark.