Portugal preview: There's always the Euros on the horizon as realities of November winter bite 

EURO VISION: Conrad Kirkwood, IFA President; Mike Mulraney, SFA President; Debbie Hewitt, UK&I Board Chair; Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA President; Paul Cooke, FAI President and Noel Mooney, FAW Chief Executive during the UEFA EURO 2028 launch at Below The Lights, Piccadilly Circus, London. Pic: James Manning/PA Wire.

World Cup 2026 qualifier Ireland v Portugal, Aviva Stadium (tonight, 7.45pm)

It’s just as well we’ll be talking up another tournament immediately if Ireland’s latest failure arrives this week.