Troy Parrott's late winner in Budapest has pushed the Republic of Ireland back into the qualification picture for the 2026 World Cup, with Czech Republic and potentially Denmark standing between the Boys in Green and a first finals appearence since 2002.
If the team reach a major tournament the country will erupt, but beneath the celebrations sits the real question - what would qualification actually change for Irish football?
An appearance at a major finals is emotional for supporters but potentially transformative for the sport. It affects finances, politics, participation and long-term development. For the FAI, it represents a rare opportunity.
FAI finances and the impact of prize money
The FAI's 2023 accounts show a turnover of €62.3m, up from €54m, with a €3.5m surplus and legacy debt reduced to €43.2m. Cash reserves fell sharply from €10.9m to €1.6m, highlighting how tight its financial position remains.
FIFA has not confirmed 2026 prize money, but in 2022 teams who exited a group stage received at least US$9, or around €8.3m.
With the expanded format, that figure is expected to rise. Even a conservative payout would help the FAI accelerate debt reduction and invest in long-term infrastructure, rather than short-term costs.
Even the carrot of a possible home play-off final against Denmark of North Macedonia should see season ticket sales surge this side of Christmas.
Government leverage and long-awaited infrastructure
Qualification would also strengthen the FAI’s hand politically.
In 2023, it received €8.12m in Sport Ireland support, yet football facilities remain chronically underfunded.
Ireland faces several clear challenges. The redevelopment of Dalymount Park continues slowly, with the majority of League of Ireland grounds in need of significant enhancement.
Many clubs train on ageing municipal pitches or rent limited all-weather surfaces at high cost, and many League of Ireland grounds are owned by local authorities or private landlords, rather than the clubs.
At grassroots level demand often exceeds supply. In some parts of Dublin, hundreds of children are now on waiting lists for football clubs because local facilities cannot cope.
Qualification changes that dynamic. A major tournament brings visibility, urgency and political pressure.
Governments tend to take greater interest when a sport captures public attention, and other nations have leveraged qualification to secure stadium funding, elite training centres and regional development hubs.
Ireland has several projects ready to advance once funding is available.
A successful qualifying campaign would give the FAI stronger leverage to argue that football is now performing on a global stage and that infrastructure should reflect that reality.
Commercial uplift and a stronger football economy
Commercial revenue is already rising. The FAI reported €20.8m in 2023, up from €15.6m, with sponsorship increasing to €9.1m from €4.6m.
Commercial income grew again to around €22.9m in 2024, helped by Sky’s expanded sponsorship of both senior teams.
A World Cup appearance would amplify this significantly. After Euro 2016, Wales secured major new partners such as JD Sports and Vauxhall.
Canada expanded its sponsorship portfolio, with Nike, Gatorade and CIBC ahead of 2022.
Associations of Ireland’s size typically see sustained double-digit commercial growth, often in the 15-30% range, in the first cycle after qualification.
For the FAI, that uplift would mean several million euro extra each year for facilities, debt reduction and pathway development.
The League of Ireland would also benefit, with national team momentum historically boosting domestic crowds and commercial interest.
Youth participation and pressure on pathways
Qualification often sparks immediate growth in youth participation. Wales saw significant increases after Euro 2016, particularly in the women’s game.
Iceland experienced a well-documented participation boom alongside its investment in indoor facilities and coaching.
Ireland is already seeing strong momentum, especially in the women’s game, with the FAI reporting record numbers of women and girls playing in recent seasons.
Ireland reaching the round of 16 at the latest Under-17 World Cup added further attention to underage football.
However, the system is stretched. Many clubs are full, training slots are limited and coaching resources thin.
Without investment in all-weather surfaces, coaching pathways and regional centres, a qualification bounce would overwhelm existing structures.
With prize money and new commercial income, Ireland could build pathways capable of producing deeper tournament runs.
Croatia’s academy overhaul led to consecutive World Cup finals. Japan’s investment after 2002 created one of the world’s strongest youth systems. Belgium’s Golden Generation emerged from long-term academy reform.
Ireland has shown it can compete at underage level, and structural investment - which began with the €m academy pledge in this year's budget - could turn potential into consistency.
The window of opportunity
Qualification creates a short but powerful window in which political will, commercial appetite and public attention align.
These moments are rare. During this period the FAI can reduce debt more quickly, secure government backing for stalled projects, strengthen sponsor relationships and expand youth development capacity.
It is a moment when football becomes a national focus and decisions that normally move slowly can be accelerated.
Iceland showed how impactful this window can be. After Euro 2016, it secured major state investment, expanded indoor facilities and increased elite coaching, creating long-term benefits that outlasted the tournament buzz.
But the window closes quickly. Nations that capitalise on it often reshape their football landscape for a decade. Those that do not slip back into familiar problems once the excitement fades.
A moment to choose
Qualification will not solve every problem. It will not erase debt or build every facility. But it would be the most meaningful opportunity Irish football has had in years, measured in funding, infrastructure and long-term participation rather than celebration alone.
If Ireland reaches the World Cup, the moment will belong to the supporters and players. What happens next depends on whether Irish football chooses to enjoy it or build on it.
