Serbia to start for Republic of Ireland as World Cup qualifier schedule revealed
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.
It makes for a difficult first assignment for Stephen Kenny who has yet to win a game after eight matches in charge but his second qualifier is a far more winnable one, at home to Luxembourg in March.
That first window will close with a home tie against the Qataris. The 'away' game against the World Cup hosts will be played at a neutral venue.
There are no summer qualifiers this time but the September bloc looks like being the make-or-break for this campaign with the Boys in Green travelling to face Portugal's European champions before facing Azerbaijan and then Serbia in Dublin.
No ticket details will be available for some time as the FAI await developments on the return of fans in the COVID-19 era.
Wednesday, 24th - Serbia away
Saturday, 27th – Luxembourg home
Tuesday, 30th – Qatar home, non-competitive
Wednesday, 1st – Portugal away
Saturday, 4th – Azerbaijan home
Tuesday, 7th – Serbia home
Saturday, 9th – Azerbaijan away
Tuesday, 12th – Qatar away, non-competitive (game to be played in Europe)
Thursday, 11th – Portugal home
Sunday, 14th – Luxembourg away
CONFIRMED | Ireland's fixtures for 2021
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) December 8, 2020
March 24 | 🇷🇸 v 🇮🇪
March 27 | 🇮🇪 v 🇱🇺
March 30 | 🇮🇪 v 🇶🇦
September 1 | 🇵🇹 v 🇮🇪
September 4 | 🇮🇪 v 🇦🇿
September 7 | 🇮🇪 v 🇷🇸
October 9 | 🇦🇿 v 🇮🇪
October 12 | 🇶🇦 v 🇮🇪
November 11 | 🇮🇪 v 🇵🇹
November 14 | 🇱🇺 v 🇮🇪#COYBIG pic.twitter.com/rm5wNCYGrv
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