Carla Ward open to Páirc Uí Chaoimh return for World Cup qualifiers

Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward celebrates. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Carla Ward has suggested that she’d like to see the Irish women’s team return to Supervalu Pairc Uí Chaoimh for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.   

Ireland have been drawn against France, Netherlands and Poland in their group, with only the victor booking a direct ticket to the 2027 finals in Brazil.

Under the revised format, the majority of Europe’s 11 berths – seven – will be sourced through the playoff series. By sealing a return to League A last week through beating Belgium 5-4 on aggregate, Ireland are guaranteed entry into that series.

Before that, they’ve six qualifiers between February and June to tackle. Where they finish in the pool will determine the difficulty level of their path through the playoffs.

There was at least the consolation of Ireland avoiding the group of death against world champions Spain and back-to-back Euro holders England, paired together at the ceremony held in Nyon, Switzerland.

France are sixth in the world, 2017 European champions Netherlands sit in eleventh while Poland, in 26th, are just one spot ahead of the Irish.

“Third, at minimum, would get us a better route than fourth in the table - and also continue our status in League A,” said Ward, setting out her stall for the campaign.

“I think France are beatable, as are these teams, so I don't think it's necessarily the target's third.” 

 Top seeds France are renowned as a nation of underachievers in the women’s game.

A major title has eluded them. Quarter-finals is the farthest they’ve reached in the World Cup; semis at the Euros.

That’s a disappointing return for a country so successful on the club circuit. Lyon won the Champions League five times on the trot from 2016-2020, reclaiming it from Barcelona in 2022 before losing to the same opponent in 2024.

Laurent Bonadei succeeded the affable Hervé Renard as manager.

The former Saudi Arabian chief was in charge for both Euro qualifiers against Ireland in 2024, overseeing a 1-0 win in Metz before Ireland prevailed 3-1 at Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

In 2025, they’ve lost just once in play over 14 games.

The year began with an 11-match winning streak, including a win over holders England at the Euros but they were eliminated in the last-eight by Germany 6-5 on penalties.

The superpowers met again in the recent League A championship, France narrowly losing 3-2 on aggregate following a 1-0 loss in Düsseldorf.

Ireland’s greatest memory since the World Cup breakthrough of 2023 was that Leeside victory led by local Denise O’Sullivan. 

Ward took charge in January, returning to the venue in the summer when another Cork native, Saoirse Noonan, scored the only goal of the Nations League triumph over Slovenia.

With fixture dates due to be unveiled imminently, Ward is amenable to Ireland’s matches being staged outside of Dublin.

“We have some good options,” Ward said. “We loved playing at the Aviva against Belgium with the noise there.

“Also, I said after the game in Cork that it was one of the best atmospheres I've felt.

“There will be conversations for sure and, interestingly, my opinion might be different to other people's.

“My focus is on trying to get points and win games. And that will dictate where I suggest we play certain teams, not just what's going to sell. That's going to be my recommendation.” 

Ireland famously held the Dutch scoreless in Nijmegen in their first home match as champions. 

Their manager, Sarina Wiegman, would leave her native country to replicate that success with back-to-back Euro titles for England but recently lost her assistant Arjan Veurink back to his homeland. “He’s a fantastic coach,” noted Ward.

Still leading the line for the Dutch is Vivianne Miedema, the veteran former Arsenal striker currently at Manchester City.

Ward added: “England and Spain are, in my opinion, the top two teams in the world right now and I thought we’d get them.

“We wanted to avoid that but France and Netherlands, with no disrespect to Poland, are top sides.

“Poland will be looking at us in the same way that we'll look at them. They're a good side, shown by beating Wales 5-2 and drawing against the Netherlands recently. 

“They’ve got calibre, grit and a willingness. All of those games will be tough, but I think we can play and compete against anybody.”