World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar have been added to the Republic of Ireland World Cup Qualifying Group with non-competition fixtures at home and at a neutral European venue alongside the ten games that will decide if Stephen Kenny’s side makes it to the 20922 Finals.
The move is to give the host nation more experience of playing against better opposition and will also give an opportunity for Ireland and Irish business to forge additional sporting links with the wealthy middle east nation.
Qatar Airways has daily flights from Dublin and there are already strong links to Irish horseracing.
The home game against Qatar will take place on March 30th, three days after our opening home fixture against Luxembourg.
The opening game in the group will see Ireland travel to Serbia in what could prove to be a crunch game in determining the group winners and runners up.
We had suggested yesterday that facing Portugal in the first game back after the Euro Finals could be in our favour and that is exactly what has been negotiated with that game, likely in Lisbon, taking place on September 1st.
It will be followed in that window by home games against Azerbaijan on September 4th and Serbia on September 7th.
October sees the Republic away to Azerbaijan on Saturday, October 9th, and away to Qatar, at a European venue, on Tuesday, October 12th.
The final Group A fixtures will be played in November when Ireland are at home to Portugal on Thursday, November 11th, and away to Luxembourg on Sunday, November 14th.
Northern Ireland will open and close their campaign against Italy, travelling away on March 25th and entertaining the former World Champions at Windsor Park on November 15th.
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