Ireland have been dealt a major blow ahead of their World Cup playoff later this month, with Evan Ferguson set to miss the trip to Prague through injury.
The Roma star last played in mid-January, having been sidelined since with an ankle injury.
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This is the second such injury Ferguson has sustained this season, and manager Gian Piero Gasperini’s initial remarks on the issue were less than encouraging.
Further reports in the Italian press late last month suggested that the issue had become “chronic,” deepening fears that Ferguson would miss the playoff against the Czech Republic on March 26th.
The latest reports confirm that Ferguson will not only miss that tie, but is likely to be sidelined for the rest of the season.
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Evan Ferguson ruled out of Prague
Rome, Italy 23th August 2025: Evan Ferguson of AS Roma during SERIE A 2025-26 football match between AS Roma vs Bologna FC at the Olimpico Stadium (Photo: Shutterstock)
Italian publication Corriere dello Sport reported early on Saturday morning that Evan Ferguson would undergo surgery on his ankle issue this week and that his season was “over.”
The first such report in the Irish press, from David Sneyd of The42.ie, confirmed the dreaded news.
Per Sneyd, not only will Ferguson miss the playoff in Prague, but he could be set to miss the World Cup, should Ireland qualify.
On loan at Roma, Ferguson has returned to parent club Brighton for consultation this week, and a decision has now been made to operate on the ankle issue.
The 21-year-old striker will undergo surgery on Monday in Brighton, with a return date set for the beginning of the Seagulls’ pre-season this summer.
That would cast any potential World Cup participation in massive doubt, a huge blow to Heimir HallgrÃmsson and Ireland.
The news was confirmed by Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini in a press conference on Saturday. Having revealed that Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk would be sidelined for the foreseeable future, Gasperini confirmed the same of his Irish striker.
“The same goes for Ferguson at this point,” Gasperini told the Italian press.
Because this is probably where his season ends to have surgery on his ankle, so he won’t have time to recover, even at the end of the season. So they’re now crossed off the list.
A hammer blow for Evan Ferguson and for Ireland ahead of a landmark World Cup playoff.
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