Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

31 March 2026; Seamus Coleman of Republic of Ireland with his children, from left, Lily, Blake and Ellie, before the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsf

Molumby hails 'incredible' Coleman as star mulls future

Jayson Molumby has hailed the "incredible" Séamus Coleman as the Republic of Ireland veteran mulls over his international future.

Soccer • 01 Apr

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson arrives before the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

'It's good the Czechs won, it shows us how close we are'

Heimir Hallgrimsson and assistant John O'Shea reflect on the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign and the metrics that almost took them past Czechia in the play-off semi-final last week.

Soccer • 02 Apr

Troy Parrott of Republic of Ireland is tackled by Imran Fetai of North Macedonia during the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Friendly frustration as Ireland held by North Macedonia

The Republic of Ireland were unable to soothe the pain from Prague with victory as Heimir Hallgrimsson's side were held to a 0-0 draw by North Macedonia in their friendly at Aviva Stadium.

Soccer • 01 Apr

John Egan of Republic of Ireland arrives before the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Ireland make three changes for North Macedonia friendly

Heimir Hallgrimsson has made three changes to his Republic of Ireland side for tonight's Aviva Stadium friendly against North Macedonia.

Soccer • 31 Mar

Bosun Lawal of Republic of Ireland after the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and North Macedonia at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

O'Shea buoyed by emergence of 'important' youngsters

Tuesday night's friendly 0-0 draw against North Macedonia might have been a "strange" one for the Republic of Ireland but for John O'Shea the main positive was the opportunity to blood new senior internationals.

Soccer • 01 Apr

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, left, and Seamus Coleman during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Republic of Ireland and Portugal at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Ireland v North Macedonia: All you need to know

The game that Ireland desperately didn't want to play is here and now they must make the most of it. Here's everything you need to know about Ireland v North Macedonia.

Soccer • 30 Mar

26 March 2026; Dara O'Shea of Republic of Ireland during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Hurting O'Shea ready to turn the page for Ireland

Dara O'Shea is still hurting like the rest of the Republic of Ireland players but knows life will move on as a new chapter begins for the nation.

Soccer • 31 Mar

Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson during a Republic of Ireland men's media conference at the FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Hallgrimsson prizing performance over experimentation

Heimir Hallgrimsson is not planning to drastically experiment with his Republic of Ireland side despite Tuesday's clash against North Macedonia being a friendly.

Soccer • 30 Mar

Bosun Lawal and Jason Knight, right, during a Republic of Ireland men's training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Preview: Unwanted friendly not a full stop for Ireland

It's the friendly no one wanted for the Republic of Ireland but Heimir Hallgrimsson and the Boys in Green are keen to use tonight's match against North Macedonia as the launchpad for what's to come on the road towards Euro 2028.

Soccer • 31 Mar

Millenic Alli during a Republic of Ireland men's training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Late-bloomer Alli offers Ireland 'different perspective'

Heimir Hallgrimsson believes the Republic of Ireland's newest face Millenic Alli will bring a "different perspective" to the squad due to his late-bloomer status.

Soccer • 31 Mar

Millenic Alli of Luton Town celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Luton Town at Pride Park in Derby, England, on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto)

Who is Millenic Alli? Meet Ireland's newest call-up

Millenic Alli was not a name on the radar of many when it came to a possible call-up to a Republic of Ireland squad, despite being a Championship footballer. Read all about the latest player selected by Heimir Hallgrimsson.

Soccer • 29 Mar

Seamus Coleman of Republic of Ireland celebrates after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F Qualifier match between Hungary and Republic of Ireland at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary.

No numbers game afoot but Coleman stay would be a 'gain'

Heimir Hallgrimsson says it would be the Republic of Ireland's gain if Séamus Coleman opts to extend his international career into another campaign.

Soccer • 29 Mar

Jack Taylor of Republic of Ireland in action against Pavel Šulc of Czechia during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia.

Taylor a doubt for North Macedonia, Szmodics back home

Jack Taylor is a doubt for the Republic of Ireland's friendly against North Macedonia on Tuesday.

Soccer • 29 Mar

26 March 2026; Republic of Ireland supporters before the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Irish fans need to lift their team after Czech heartbreak

After the heart-breaking end to a World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the relationship between the Ireland team and their fans rekindled, it's time for supporters to step up.

Soccer • 29 Mar

'We should have won that game!' | Memories of 2009

Soccer Pod: Doyle and Treacy analyse frustrating defeat

Alan Cawley is joined by former internationals Kevin Doyle and Keith Treacy to look back on Thursday's painful shootout defeat to Czechia, with Raf Diallo dialling in from the airport in Prague.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Jimmy Dunne of Republic of Ireland, 12, and teammates react after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/S

RTÉ2 audience reached 1.6 million peak for Ireland game

The Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off penalty shootout defeat to Czechia on Thursday night drew record numbers to RTÉ's coverage on television and on the RTÉ Player.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Sammie Szmodics of Republic of Ireland receives medical attention during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Stephen McC

Szmodics 'on the mend' after hospital stay

Republic of Ireland attacker Sammie Szmodics has thanked fans for their support after being discharged from hospital in Prague.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Nathan Collins of Republic of Ireland after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

'It hurts a lot' - Collins on shattered dreams

Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins attempted to look to the future in the immediate aftermath of his side's 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Czechia, but admitted the weight of a crushed World Cup dream was a heavy burden.

Soccer • 27 Mar

Graphic picture in blue that read 'Eoin Doyle Soccer' with an image of him smiling

Optimism should emerge from Prague heartbreak

Eoin Doyle recounts his own take on the highs and lows of the Republic of Ireland's World Cup play-off qualifier against Czechia in Prague, opining that when the current disappointment subsides, there is real cause for optimism.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Republic of Ireland supporters after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Ireland fans react: 'Very cruel' and 'it wasn't our day'

Republic of Ireland supporters have been reacting to the World Cup play-off defeat to Czechia at Fortuna Arena on Thursday night.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Seamus Coleman of Republic of Ireland after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Retirement not in Coleman's thoughts after gutting defeat

Seamus Coleman said retirement was not something in his thoughts in the wake of Ireland's gut-wrenching penalty shootout loss to Czechia.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Nathan Collins, left, and Dara O'Shea of Republic of Ireland after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfi

Ratings: Collins and O'Shea rose to occasion in defeat

How the Republic of Ireland players rated after a dramatic and gut-wrenching night in Prague.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

'It's just pain' - Hallgrimsson devastated by defeat

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said all he could feel was pain as he admitted it was impossible to console his players after the World Cup play-off penalty shootout loss to Czechia at the Fortuna Arena.

Soccer • 27 Mar

26 March 2026; Republic of Ireland players react after the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Prague penalties put a pin in Ireland's World Cup dream

There will be no North American adventure for the Republic of Ireland this summer after penalties punctured their World Cup qualification dreams on a cold Thursday night in Prague.

Soccer • 27 Mar

Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson before the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers play-off semi-final match between Czechia and Republic of Ireland at Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia.

Hallgrimsson's focus switches to Euro 2028

Heimir Hallgrimsson believes his Republic of Ireland side are showing a level of growth that will bear fruit at a European Championships on home soil in two years' time.

Soccer • 28 Mar

Republic of Ireland national football team

Molumby hails 'incredible' Coleman as star mulls future

'It's good the Czechs won, it shows us how close we are'

Friendly frustration as Ireland held by North Macedonia

Ireland make three changes for North Macedonia friendly

O'Shea buoyed by emergence of 'important' youngsters

Ireland v North Macedonia: All you need to know

Hurting O'Shea ready to turn the page for Ireland

Hallgrimsson prizing performance over experimentation

Preview: Unwanted friendly not a full stop for Ireland

Late-bloomer Alli offers Ireland 'different perspective'

Who is Millenic Alli? Meet Ireland's newest call-up

No numbers game afoot but Coleman stay would be a 'gain'

Taylor a doubt for North Macedonia, Szmodics back home

Irish fans need to lift their team after Czech heartbreak

Soccer Pod: Doyle and Treacy analyse frustrating defeat

RTÉ2 audience reached 1.6 million peak for Ireland game

Szmodics 'on the mend' after hospital stay

'It hurts a lot' - Collins on shattered dreams

Optimism should emerge from Prague heartbreak

Ireland fans react: 'Very cruel' and 'it wasn't our day'

Retirement not in Coleman's thoughts after gutting defeat

Ratings: Collins and O'Shea rose to occasion in defeat

'It's just pain' - Hallgrimsson devastated by defeat

Prague penalties put a pin in Ireland's World Cup dream

Hallgrimsson's focus switches to Euro 2028