Republic of Ireland have arranged two friendlies for the upcoming May/June international window, with fixtures confirmed against Qatar at the Aviva Stadium and an away trip to face FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts Canada in Montreal.
Heimir HallgrÃmsson’s side will first welcome Qatar to Dublin on Thursday, 28 May, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
The team will then travel to Montreal for a fixture against Canada at Stade Saputo on Saturday, 6 June, with the kick-off at 12.30am (7.30pm Friday local time).
Both Qatar and Canada are set to compete at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and the games will serve as crucial preparation for Ireland, should the team successfully navigate the UEFA play-offs in March.
Ireland face Czech Republic on 26 March in Prague in a play-off semi-final. The winner of the tie will face Denmark or North Macedonia in a final at their home venue.
The clash with Qatar will be the third meeting between the two nations.
A Callum Robinson hat-trick secured a 4-0 victory for Ireland in their last encounter at the Aviva Stadium in October 2021, which followed a 1-1 draw in Debrecen, Hungary, earlier that year.
The trip to Montreal will mark Ireland’s first-ever international fixture in Canada. The sides have met only once before, in an international friendly at Lansdowne Road in November 2003, where goals from Damien Duff and a Robbie Keane brace secured a 3-0 win for the home side.
Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said: “We’re delighted to have secured two excellent opponents for the summer window. Our entire focus is on the play-offs in March, but it is essential to have a clear and challenging plan for what comes next, and facing two teams who will be at the World Cup provides us with exactly the level of preparation we will need.
“The home game against Qatar at the Aviva will be a great occasion for our supporters, and the trip to Montreal to face a World Cup co-host will be a fantastic and valuable experience for the squad. These fixtures give us a clear and demanding focus for the summer.”
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