Republic of Ireland women's national football team

The Republic of Ireland women's national football team () represents the Republic of Ireland in competitions such as the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Women's Championship. The team played in their first World Cup at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. It has taken part in invitational tournaments such as the Algarve Cup, the Istria Cup, the Cyprus Cup and Pinatar Cup. It is organised by the Women's Football Association of Ireland.

History In 1973, the Women's Football Association of Ireland was established and in the same year on 13 May the Republic of Ireland made their official international debut, Paula Gorham's hat-trick securing a 3–2 win in an away friendly game against Wales. They made their competitive debut on 19 September 1982 in a 1984 European Competition for Women's Football qualifier against Scotland. This time the Republic of Ireland lost 3–0. On 2 October 1982 the Republic of Ireland gained their first competitive win when they defeated Northern Ireland 2–1 in an away game in the same competition. After losing 10–0 to Sweden in a Euro 1993 qualifier, the FAI did not enter a team in the 1995 competition. This defeat against Sweden remains the team's biggest defeat.

During the 2000s the Republic of Ireland enjoyed some minor successes. In 2000 they won the Celt Cup – a four team tournament that also featured Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. In their 2005 UEFA Women's Euro campaign they also won their second level group, finishing above Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Malta. This would have secured promotion to the elite group of nations which competed directly for qualification to major tournaments, had the two level system not been scrapped for the next qualifying campaign. The Republic of Ireland also won their group at the 2013 Cyprus Cup, finishing above South Korea, South Africa and Northern Ireland.

The Republic of Ireland has also enjoyed some success at both under-17 and under-19 levels. In 2010, with a team that included Megan Campbell, Ciara Grant, Dora Gorman, Denise O'Sullivan, Siobhán Killeen and Clare Shine, the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. In the UEFA championship semi-final the Republic of Ireland defeated Germany 1–0. With a team that included Megan Connolly, Savannah McCarthy and Katie McCabe the Republic of Ireland team won their group at the 2014 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship and qualified for the semi-finals.

In April 2017, the squad demanded better treatment from the FAI and threatened to boycott a home match against Slovakia. They wanted a higher match fee, and broken time payment for amateurs missing work. They claimed that they had to share with underage teams the tracksuits they wore travelling to and from away matches, and change out of them in airport toilets. The boycott threat was lifted when agreement on improvements was reached.

In November 2021 the team recorded their biggest ever win: 11–0 against Georgia in the qualifiers for 2023 World Cup. The team secured a crucial victory in their World Cup qualifying campaign, defeating Finland 1-0 in a Group A match. The decisive goal was scored in the second half by substitute Lily Agg, allowing the Irish team to claim second place in the group with one game remaining. This achievement was soon surpassed when Ireland won the play-off final 1–0 over Scotland in Glasgow on 11 October 2022 to qualify for the final tournament. A crucial first-half penalty save from Courtney Brosnan kept Ireland alive before Donegal native Amber Barrett scored the decisive goal, days after news of an explosion that killed several people in her county. She dedicated the goal to the victims and the community. While celebrating in the Hampden changing rooms, several players sang Celtic Symphony praising the Irish Republican Army, for which manager Vera Pauw and players Áine O'Gorman and Chloe Mustaki apologised; the chanting was condemned by politicians from Northern Ireland. The FAI was fined €20,000 for the chanting.

They played their first ever Women's World Cup game on 20 July 2023, losing 1–0 to Australia, one of the co-host nations of the competition, following a penalty. Ireland was then beaten by Canada, the reigning Olympic champion (1–2), after leading 1–0 for much of the first half and was mathematically eliminated after 2 days despite a good performance. The girls in green leave the competition with honors by finishing bottom of group B but with one point, after holding Nigeria (0–0) in check.

On September 23, 2023, the Republic of Ireland team played a match at Aviva Stadium in Dublin for the first time in its history. The match was played in front of 35,994 spectators, setting a new attendance record for a women's soccer match in Ireland (the previous record was 7,633 at Tallaght Stadium in July 2023 against France). The match is the first game of the new Women's Nations League, the national team's first game since the World Cup, and the first game since Vera Pauw's departure. The Irish won the match 3–0 against their Northern Irish neighbors.

After six Nations League matches marked by six wins and promotion to Group A, Eileen Gleeson was confirmed in her position on December 18, 2023. Her assistants were confirmed in their positions in February 2024: Emma Byrne, the most capped player in history, and Colin Healy, former coach of Cork City F.C.. The second half of Gleeson's tenure proved to be much more complicated. Placed in an extremely strong Euro 2025 qualifying group with France, England, and Sweden, three major teams in European women's soccer, the Irish finished in last place despite a prestigious victory in Cork against France. Qualifying for the play-offs, the Irish lost in the final qualifying round to Wales. Following this elimination, the FAI announced that Gleeson and her staff would not be reappointed.

Home stadium Throughout their history, the Republic of Ireland have played their home games at various grounds, including Dalymount Park, Tolka Park, Richmond Park and Turners Cross. They have also played the occasional game at Glenmalure Park, Belfield Park, Carlisle Grounds, Ferrycarrig Park, Flancare Park and at Lamberton, Arklow.

While they have played the majority of their home games at Tallaght Stadium since 2013, the national team played their first home game at the Aviva Stadium in September 2023.

In 2024, the Republic of Ireland played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first time in a Euro 2025 qualifier match against France.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

2025

2026

Coaching staff Current coaching staff

Role Name Head coach Carla Ward Assistant Head Coach Stephen Neligan Assistant Coach Amber Whiteley Goalkeeping Coach Emma Byrne

Manager history .

# Name Period Matches Wins Draws Losses Winning % Ref. 1 Tony Kelly 1981–1983 10 2 1 7 20.0% 2 Eamonn Darcy 1984–1986 5 2 0 3 40.0% 3 Fran Rooney 1986–1991 14 4 3 7 28.57% 4 Linda Gorman 1991–1992 3 1 0 2 33.33% 5 Mick Cooke 1992–2000 33 16 4 13 48.48% 6 Noel King 2000–2010 70 25 13 32 35.71% 7 Susan Ronan 2010–2016 56 19 9 28 33.93% 8 Colin Bell 2017–2019 22 9 4 8 40.91% 9 Tom O'Connor 2019 (interim) 2 1 0 1 50.0% 10 Vera Pauw 2019–2023 34 15 5 14 44.18% 11 Eileen Gleeson 2023–2024 18 9 2 7 50.0% 12 Carla Ward 2025–present 17 10 0 7 58.82%

Players Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification play-off matches against Kazakhstan on 9 and 13 October 2026.

Caps and goals correct as of 9 June 2026, after the match against the France.

Recent call-ups The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.

Notes

= Withdrew due to injury

= Retired from national team

Records

Players in bold are still active with the national team.

Most appearances RankPlayerCareerCapsGoals 1Emma Byrne 1997–2017 134 0 2Denise O'Sullivan 2011–present 132 22 3Louise Quinn 2008–2025 122 16 4Áine O'Gorman 2006–2023 119 13 5Niamh Fahey 2007–2024 115 1 6Katie McCabe 2015–present 107 34 7Ciara Grant 1995–2012 105 11 8Diane Caldwell 2006–2024 102 4 9Ruesha Littlejohn 2012–present 94 6 10Olivia O'Toole 1991–2009 76 54

Top goalscorers RankPlayerCareerGoalsCapsAvg. 1 Olivia O'Toole 1991–2009 54 76 2 Katie McCabe 2015–present 34 107 3 Denise O'Sullivan 2011–present 22 132 4 Louise Quinn 2008–2025 16 122 5 Stephanie Zambra 2008–2022 14 58 6 Fiona O'Sullivan 2009–2016 13 41 Kyra Carusa 2020–present 46 Michele O'Brien 2003–2012 65 Áine O'Gorman 2006–2023 119 10 Ciara Grant 1995–2012 11 105

Competitive record FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup recordQualification recordYearResultWDLGFGAWDLGFGA 1991Did not qualify421163 – 1995Did not enterDid not enter 1999Did not qualify631284 – 20036402187 20078116315 201184131210 201510523139 20198413106 2023Group Stage3012139621274 2027To be determined6303999th 2031To be determinedTo be determined 2035To be determinedTo be determinedTotalGroup Stage301213633192310364 – *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

UEFA Women's Championship UEFA Women's Championship recordQualifying recordYearResultWDLGFGAWDLGFGA1984Did not qualify6213614 – 19876204417 1989401318 1991421163 19934103112 1995Did not enterDid not enter 1997Did not qualify86022010 – 20016213612 20058530355 2009104151118 20138305811 201783051714 202284131110 202510316151315th 2029Total–––––––90371043141147 15th

UEFA Women's Nations League UEFA Women's Nations League recordSeasonLeagueGroup2023–24B11st660020217th2025B22nd86021510*21stTotal 14 12 0 2 35 12 21st

Promoted at end of season No movement at end of season Relegated at end of season * Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs

Republic of Ireland women's national football team

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