The Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team will face Belgium in a two-legged promotion/relegation play-off in October, with a place in League A of the UEFA Women’s Nations League at stake.
The draw, which took place at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, today confirmed that Ireland will host the first leg before travelling to Belgium for the return fixture.
Northern Ireland has an even more challenging task on paper, playing against Iceland, who will compete this summer in their fifth consecutive European Championship finals.
If the aggregate score is level after both legs, extra time and, if needed, a penalty shootout will determine the winner.
The Republic of Ireland secured their play-off spot by finishing second in Group B2, having won five of their six group matches under new head coach Carla Ward. A dominant final-day win against Slovenia capped off a strong campaign for a team showing clear signs of progress.
“We now know our opponents for this play-off and our preparation for those two games starts now,” said Head Coach Carla Ward.
“Belgium are a very good team with a strong history in women’s football, so this will be a difficult challenge, but one we are excited to take on.
“We have a fantastic team spirit, a brilliant support staff and a group of players who are ready to take that next step in their progression. The play-off is our next target. We want to reach League A, to play against the top-ranked teams and be in the best position possible going into the 2027 FIFA World Cup qualifiers next year.”
Before the crucial October play-off, Ireland will face the United States in a two-game series, which will serve as vital preparation against world-class opposition.
Ireland vs Belgium: Head-to-Head
Ireland and Belgium have met six times at senior women’s international level. Ireland won the first-ever encounter between the two sides in 1980, but have yet to record a victory since. Their most recent meeting came in April 2021, when Belgium edged a tight international friendly in Brussels.
Belgium’s Women’s Football Record
Belgium are currently one of the stronger second-tier teams in European football. Known as the Red Flames, the team has qualified for the UEFA Women’s EURO finals twice (2017 and 2022), reaching the quarter-finals in 2022. They narrowly missed out on a place at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, finishing second in their qualifying group and falling in the play-offs.
With a strong domestic league and increasing investment in women’s football, Belgium continues to produce top-level talent, including several players competing in major European leagues.
Venue and ticket details for the home leg of the play-off will be announced in due course. The winner of the tie will earn promotion to League A, positioning them among Europe’s elite in the next edition of the UEFA Women’s Nations League and giving them a more favourable seeding for World Cup 2027 qualification.
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