Republic of Ireland to 'lock in' for World Cup dream — SkimNews
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- Republic of Ireland beat Kazakhstan 4-0 in the second leg (8-0 aggregate) of the Women's World Cup play-off, leaving Carla Ward's side two matches from the 2027 finals.
- Poland await in the next round after defeating Belgium on penalties following a 3-3 aggregate draw, with Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor flagged as their dangerman.
- Katie McCabe returned from a one-game suspension and scored a powerful strike, telling RTE Sport the squad must "lock in and be ready" over the next six weeks.
- McCabe sealed a summer move to Chelsea after her Arsenal contract expired, calling life under Sonia Bompastor a "breath of fresh air" and saying she is "enjoying my football again."
- Ireland already beat Poland twice during qualifying in April, though McCabe warned the November ties "are going to be different."
- Under Carla Ward, Ireland have recovered from a shock 4-0 home defeat by Slovenia in February 2025, beating Belgium in a promotion/relegation play-off to reach League A of the Nations League.
- Ireland reached their first Women's World Cup at Australia 2023 and are now chasing a second consecutive finals appearance.
Why it matters: Two November wins send Ireland to a second straight Women's World Cup, reversing a slump that began with the 4-0 Slovenia loss in early 2025. The Poland tie is a genuine step up — Ward's side have already beaten them twice in 2025, but Pajor's quality and the stakes sharpen the challenge.
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