Four previous occasions where Ireland’s women upset the odds

Ireland will be looking for a fifth historic upset in France on Tuesday which would secure their place at the 2027 World Cup

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026 - 07:36

John Fallon

September 21, 2021: Ireland 3 Australia 2

It may have been a friendly but the Irish team beating a Aussie side who’d finished fourth at the Olympics and were 22 places above in the rankings was an indicator of imminent qualifying success.

Sam Kerr’s 100th cap didn’t go to plan as the striker was kept quiet and Louise Quinn headed Ireland to a memorable victory at Tallaght.

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April 12, 2022: Sweden 1 Ireland 1

Just yards from where Sonia O’Sullivan won gold in the inaugural World Championship 5,000m, 27 years later another epic Irish performance at the Gamla Ullevi stadium made the world sit up and take notice.

This Swedish team were reigning Olympic silver medallists, bronze at the World Cup, and had designs on affirming their place in Australia by beating Ireland until Katie McCabe fired the visitors ahead. Kosovre Asllani’s late equaliser didn’t dampen the feat.

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July 16, 2024: Ireland 3 Netherlands 1

Pairc Uí Chaoimh was rocking for it’s first hosting of a competitive international as Ireland ended a six-game losing streak by scalping Hervé Renard’s French.

Denise O’Sullivan’s low drive got the Euro qualifier rout rolling before a crowd of 18,399, with Julie-Ann Russell and Anna Patten copperfastening the triumph.

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June 5, 2026: Ireland 3 Netherlands 2

Another cracker by the Lee came against a Dutch side with several survivors in their team from the side that lifted Euro gold in 2017.

Being assured of third spot and a seeded playoff offered a freedom for Ireland to take risk, culminating in Amber Barrett’s last-minute winner.