Ireland in Kazakhstan for first of potential four-step route to World Cup finals in Brazil

CHILLY: Republic of Ireland women's team walk ahead of their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying round 1 play-off first leg match against Kazakhstan. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

All the heat is on Ireland in the cold of Kazakhstan for Friday’s World Cup playoff semi-final first leg in Astana.

This is the first stop of a likely four-step route to next year’s finals in Brazil, once Ireland avoid a shock against a minnow and beat either Poland or Belgium in the final round.

As the 21st best team in the world, according to Fifa’s rankings, the expectation is on the Irish to sweep past an opponent situated 98th in the standings.

Friday’s first leg on the artificial pitch of the Astana Arena, contested at noon Irish time, will be followed by the second leg at Pairc Uí Chaoimh next Tuesday (7.30pm).

Uefa’s convoluted playoff system ensures teams from all pots figure.

Through Ireland avoiding bottom spot in their League A group, they are seeded, with home advantage for the second leg in both the semi and final.

Kazakhstan qualified by finishing second in the last pool, League C, sandwiched in between pool winners Belarus and Armenia.

Everything is stacked against them in the freezing local temperatures but they’ll take solace from tackling an Ireland team without their pair of world-class stars.

Katie McCabe is with the Irish party that took a ten-and-half aerial trek to eastern Europe but is suspended.

A decision was made to preclude Denise O’Sullivan from the first leg too, owing to the extra travel she’d endure coming from her club Gotham in New York.

A newcomer to the Irish set-up Stephen Neligan. He becomes Carla Ward’s fourth different assistant in 10 months, after Alan Mahon, Gary Cronin and Brian Sorensen.

The latter appointment didn’t even join the camp as his plans changed due him being placed in caretaker charge of Aston Villa. Dane Sorensen was already technical advisor at Villa and the expanded duties prevented him reporting for international duty.