In a statement following Thursday\u2019s press conference, the FAI said the new deal provides \u201cstability and clarity\u201d ahead of the upcoming World Cup playoffs.<\/p>\n
Great news for Irish football! \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea<\/p>\n
We are delighted to announce that Republic of Ireland Head Coach Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson has committed his future to the FAI by signing a new contract.<\/p>\n
Speaking at today’s press conference, Heimir confirmed he has signed a new contract until the\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/UCEXDifb8r<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ireland Football \u26bd\ufe0f\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@IrelandFootball) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI am incredibly proud and delighted to commit my future to the Republic of Ireland,\u201d said Hallgr\u00edmsson. \u201cI have always said that we are on a journey together \u2013 the players, the staff, and our incredible supporters.<\/p>\n \u201cI can see the real progress we are making and the huge potential in this group, so it was an easy decision for me to make.\u201d<\/p>\n FAI chief executive David Courell added: \u201cWe are thrilled to secure Heimir for the long term. He has brought a clear vision, a strong tactical identity, and a sense of belief back to the senior men\u2019s national team. <\/p>\n \u201cThis new contract provides the stability and leadership required to achieve our ambitious goals, not just in the upcoming playoffs but as we build towards a historic home tournament at Euro 2028. It is a statement of our intent and our confidence in the direction Heimir is taking us.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u00a0Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson signs new contract with Ireland until after Euro 2028Opens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n More from Gavin Cummiskey:<\/p>\n On his midfield selections of Bosun Lawal and Harvey Vale, Hallgr\u00edmsson explained: \u201cBosun is taller, stronger, which we expect this game will be about. He has been with us for two camps so he knows what we expect of him. Like anyone else, he could start.\u201d<\/p>\n Vale captained the England under-19s to a European title in 2022.<\/p>\n \u201cI talked to him over a year ago at Queens Park when he expressed a desire to be involved. His performance has been growing in every game, so I think this is a perfect time to bring him in.<\/p>\n \u201c(He\u2019s a) good player, good person, a hard-working guy who creates chances and scores goals.\u201d<\/p>\n The smart money is on Jason Knight to partner Jayson Molumby in midfield, although Alan Browne returns, and Ipswich Town\u2019s Jack Taylor is an established member of the squad.<\/p>\n Vale could be an impact option as one of the wide attackers if Sammie Szmodics or Chiedozie Ogbene run out of steam in Prague.<\/p>\n Right, that\u2019s the press conference over. Gavin Cummiskey has this for us:<\/p>\n Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson has made some interesting calls ahead of the Republic of Ireland\u2019s World Cup playoff against the Czech Republic in Prague next Thursday.<\/p>\n In midfield, where the main challenge is to replace the injured Burnley captain Josh Cullen, former Ireland under-21 skipper Conor Coventry does not make the cut, despite being capped against Portugal last year, as Hallgr\u00edmsson turns to Bosun Lawal and Harvey Vale.<\/p>\n Lawal is expected to shake off a hamstring strain to feature for Stoke City against Preston North End on Friday night, while Vale is a bolt from the blue, having only received his Fifa clearance to switch from England to Ireland last week.<\/p>\n Lawal and Vale are not expected to start against the Czechs, although they could see minutes off the bench or in the playoff final, should Ireland win in Prague, against the winners of Denmark v North Macedonia on March 31st at the Aviva Stadium.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll have more from Gavin shortly.<\/p>\n Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson has thrown in a bit of breaking news, confirming he has signed a contract extension to stay on as head coach until after Euro 2028.<\/p>\n The Icelander agreed terms with FAI chief executive David Courell on Thursday morning ahead of the squad announcement.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s similar to a general pay rise in Ireland over the last two years,\u201d Hallgr\u00edmsson joked. \u201cI hope John O\u2019Shea will continue, he has not signed yet, but he is an expert in his area.\u201d<\/p>\n On the Czech Republic, Hallgr\u00edmsson notes Thursday\u2019s opponents are 16 places above Ireland in the Fifa world rankings.<\/p>\n \u201cThey will be expected to win at home, losing is not an option.\u201d<\/p>\n Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson is optimistic heading into these playoffs, believing Ireland have \u201cnothing to lose, everything to gain\u201d.<\/p>\n He says his side have momentum and belief going to Prague, and unlike other teams \u201c(we\u2019re) really happy to be in the playoffs, not every national team is happy to be in the playoffs\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThose two thing can make magic for us,\u201d Hallgr\u00edmsson adds.<\/p>\n Your Ireland squad for the FIFA World Cup 26 Qualifying Play-Offs is in \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea@QPR<\/a>\u2019s Harvey Vale receives his first senior Ireland call-up as Alan Browne & Robbie Brady both return \ud83d\udc4f<\/p>\n Thu 26th March | \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddff v \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea \u2014 Ireland Football \u26bd\ufe0f\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea (@IrelandFootball) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Hallgr\u00edmsson says there may be changes to the squad ahead of the game on March 31st, with the potential for other players to be brought in.<\/p>\n On Harvey Vale\u2019s call-up, the QPR player having switched international allegiance from England earlier this month, Hallgr\u00edmsson says he spoke to Vale a year ago at which point the 22-year-old expressed a desire to play for Ireland.<\/p>\n Hallgr\u00edmsson describes Vales as a \u201cgood player, good person, hard worker, creator of chances\u201d adding he is looking forward to start working with him.<\/p>\n Hallgr\u00edmsson says it\u2019s \u201cdifficult to leave out players who got us to this game\u201d, but acknowledges it has been four months since the game against Hungary in Budapest, and \u201ca lot has happened\u201d in the interim.<\/p>\n \u201cIn general, we go for players who have been with us before because we want to do the same things that we\u2019ve done before,\u201d says Hallgr\u00edmsson of his selection.<\/p>\n The press conference is under way, with Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson acknowledging \u201cexcitement is building\u201d ahead of next Thursday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n And here\u2019s the Republic of Ireland squad for the playoffs:<\/p>\n Goalkeepers: Caoimh\u00edn Kelleher (Brentford), Mark Travers (Everton), Josh Keeley (Luton Town).<\/p>\n Defenders: S\u00e9amus Coleman (Everton), Jimmy Dunne (QPR), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O\u2019Shea (Ipswich Town), Jake O\u2019Brien (Everton), John Egan (Hull City), James Abankwah (Watford), Liam Scales (Celtic)*, Robbie Brady (Preston North End), Ryan Manning (Southampton).<\/p>\n Midfielders: Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), Alan Browne (Middlesbrough), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Finn Azaz (Southampton), Harvey Vale (QPR).<\/p>\n Attackers: Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Adam Idah (Swansea City), Johnny Kenny (Bolton, on loan from Celtic), Chiedozie Ogbene (Sheffield United, on loan from Ipswich Town), Sammie Szmodics (Derby, on loan from Ipswich Town).<\/p>\n *Suspended for Czech game<\/p>\n Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s press conference to follow…<\/p>\n Fifteen minutes now until Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s press conference gets under way.<\/p>\n Some social media managers appear to have got ahead of themselves..<\/p>\n A few clubs have tweeted to congratulate their players on their Republic of Ireland call-ups. QPR and Luton, we\u2019re looking at you.<\/p>\n Harvey Vale \ud83e\udd1d\ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea Republic of Ireland<\/p>\n A first \ud835\udde6\ud835\uddd8\ud835\udde1\ud835\udddc\ud835\udde2\ud835\udde5 international call-up ahead of the upcoming World Cup play-offs \ud83c\udfc6<\/p>\n Huge congrats, Harvey! \ud83d\ude4c pic.twitter.com\/XgBL59mq15<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 QPR FC (@QPR) March 19, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Oh well, it at least confirms that Harvey Vale is included, and goalkeeper Josh Keeley.<\/p>\n Northern Ireland are in pathway A for these World Cup playoffs, along with Wales.<\/p>\n Michael O\u2019Neill\u2019s side have a tough task ahead, facing Italy in Bergamo in their playoff semi-final next Thursday.<\/p>\n If they get through that, they\u2019ll face the winner of Wales v Bosnia & Herzegovina, who meet in the other playoff semi-final.<\/p>\n The winner of playoff A will be in Group B at the World Cup, alongside Canada, Qatar and Switzerland.<\/p>\n Scotland and England have already qualified for the World Cup and have been drawn in Group C and L respectively.<\/p>\n Scotland will face Brazil, Morocco and Haiti in the group stages, while England have Croatia, Ghana and Panama.<\/p>\n If Ireland reach the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson\u2019s side, as the winners of playoff D, would feature in Group A of the tournament.<\/p>\n There they would face co-hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.<\/p>\n South Korea would be up first, the game set for June 11th in Guadalajara, Mexico, followed by a trip to Atlanta, USA to face South Africa on June 18th, before the group games would be wrapped up against the Mexicans at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on June 24th.<\/p>\n Do we dare to think that far ahead?<\/p>\n Just a reminder of the actual match details for the upcoming games:<\/p>\n Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland, Fortuna Arena, Prague; Thursday, March 26th, kick-off 7.45pm Irish time. Live coverage on RT\u00c92.<\/p>\n Republic of Ireland v Denmark\/North Macedonia, Aviva Stadium, Dublin; Tuesday, March 31st.<\/p>\n If Ireland beat the Czech Republic, the game on March 31st will be a World Cup playoff final against the winner of the Denmark-North Macedonia playoff semi-final (which will be played next Thursday).<\/p>\n If Ireland lose next week, the game at the Aviva will be an international friendly against the losing side from Thursday\u2019s playoff in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n The Czechs named their squad for the playoffs on Tuesday and are boosted by the inclusion of some players who had been injury doubts.<\/p>\n Lyon\u2019s Pavel Sulc, Bayer Leverkusen\u2019s Patrik Schick and West Ham\u2019s Tomas Soucek are all included the 25-man squad named by Czech manager Miroslav Koubek.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Czech squad named for World Cup playoff against Republic of IrelandOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Gavin Cummiskey reports Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson is going to break from normal procedure in naming his squad this afternoon, by doing just that, naming them.<\/p>\n Hallgr\u00edmsson will hold a live press conference at around 12.15pm during which he will list his chosen players, expected to number in the region of 24-25.<\/p>\n Who\u2019s set for inclusion? Gavin believes there are spots for Robbie Brady and S\u00e9amus Coleman, the only men standing from Ireland\u2019s last appearance at a major tournament, Euro 2016.<\/p>\n Liam Scales and Festy Ebosele are both unavailable for the Czech game due to suspension, while Evan Ferguson is out of the running as he recovers from a recent ankle surgery, as is Josh Cullen, who suffered an ACL injury in December.<\/p>\n But the \u201cbolt from the blue\u201d is the expected inclusion of QPR\u2019s Harvey Vale after he switched international allegiance from England to Ireland earlier this month.<\/p>\n Read Gavin\u2019s squad preview in full below:<\/p>\n [\u00a0Robbie Brady and S\u00e9amus Coleman in line to return to Ireland squad for World Cup playoff in PragueOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Good morning! A date we\u2019ve had in the diary since November is fast approaching. On March 26th, the Republic of Ireland<\/a> face the Czech Republic in a World Cup<\/a> playoff semi-final, the winner of which will face either Denmark or North Macedonia in a playoff final where the winner will earn a spot at this summer\u2019s World Cup.<\/p>\n![\"QPR's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/3LUXQADHG4JPNMDBSVR24YQGWA.jpg\")
QPR’s Harvey Vale, who has been included in the Republic of Ireland squad for the World Cup playoffs. Photograph: Lee Keuneke\/PA <\/p>\n
Tue 31st March | \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddea v \ud83c\udde9\ud83c\uddf0\/\ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\uddf0 pic.twitter.com\/1DQoBpXrx3<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Republic](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/XBPBPUQBNOEVXD4YKHWVS2ILZY.jpg\")
Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins alongside manager Heimir Hallgr\u00edmsson during a press conference last August. Photograph: Ryan Byrne\/Inpho <\/p>\n![\"Trai](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/JMUBDUN2TZMYBWKISADD74QVME.jpg\")
Trai Hume (right) celebrates scoring Northern Ireland’s second goal during the Uefa World Cup qualifier against Slovakia in October. Photograph: Liam McBurney\/PA <\/p>\n![\"Draw](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/6RG6SKXUIHXIP54BVVIBPBFKZ4.jpg\")
Draw assistant Wayne Gretzky shows a card reading Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic and Republic of Ireland during the draw for the 2026 World Cup which was held in December. Photograph: Jim Watson\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Patrik](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/LF3UATTU6RDILHRJFQS35GTBLU.jpg\")
Patrik Schick in action for Bayer Leverkusen during Tuesday’s Champions League second-leg Round of 16 fixture against Arsenal. Photograph: Justin Setterfield\/Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Séamus](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/V37CSJ3HHRF7DIHCAO3FZKZ32Y.jpg\")
S\u00e9amus Coleman celebrates after Ireland’s win over Hungary in Budapest. Photograph: Ryan Byrne\/Inpho <\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2PAMHQM36U6RJUIYJ5RBNWFL7Q.jpg\")
The goal that got us here: Troy Parrott scores Ireland\u2019s third goal against Hungary in their Uefa Group F World Cup qualifier in Budapest last November. Photograph: Ryan Byrne\/Inpho <\/p>\n