2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Play-Offs: Semi-Finals – Czech Republic vs Ireland

Czech Republic face Republic of Ireland in a crunch play-off semi-final in their bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup. 

Victory would see either Czech Republic or Ireland play host to the winner of Denmark’s play-off semi-final against North Macedonia in the Path D Play-Off Final on Tuesday 31 March.

 

Team News

Czech Republic have a full squad available for selection, with West Ham’s Tomas Soucek and Wolves’ Ladislav Krejci amongst familiar first-team names.

Ireland also have no fresh withdrawals following their squad announcement, although Evan Ferguson was left out of the selection due to an ankle injury.

Festy Ebosele also hasn’t been called up to the squad, given that he is suspended for this tie.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Czech Republic meet Ireland at Fortuna Arena, Prague, on Thursday 26 March at 8:45pm CET (7:45pm GMT), live on Amazon Prime PPV in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Czech Republic’s first meeting against Ireland in World Cup Qualifying, but have avoided defeat in two previous competitive meetings in all competitions (W1, D1).
• Ireland have lost all three previous visits to Czech Republic in all competitions (L3).
• Czech Republic have kept clean sheets in two of their three previous home matches against Ireland, except for a 2-1 win in March 1998.
• Tomas Soucek has scored in each of Czech Republic’s last two matches (W2), during which they kept clean sheets in 1-0 win over San Marino then 6-0 win over Gibraltar.
• Ireland’s last five goals have all been scored by Troy Parrott (W2), as he netted in a 2-0 home win against Portugal then 3-2 comeback away to Hungary.

 

Prediction

Having finished a comfortable second in their Qualifying Group, Czech Republic now need to bring their top game which is pretty much centred on a solid defence in recent matches and clinical play up front, although San Marino and Gibraltar weren’t proper tests in November for this particular challenge.

Ireland meanwhile showed resilience, guts and team spirit to snatch their place in this play-off tie at the expense of Hungary so will need to bring those qualities as underdogs into this tie, whilst Parrott is still in hot goalscoring form for AZ Alkmaar so he needs to translate that momentum into this game.

Both teams though know that a home play-off final is at stake for a World Cup spot so I do expect this to be close and particularly the battle between Patrik Schick and Parrott up top, but I do think that the Irish could nick this in extra time if they bring the same spirit of recent games.

Prediction: Czech Republic 1-2 (AET) ROI

Result: Czech Republic 2-2 (AET) ROI (Czech Republic win 4-3 on penalties)