Ireland ready to fight France for World Cup spot in 2026

Ireland striker Amber Barrett insists her team will leave everything on the pitch against France to secure a World Cup berth.

Ireland's recent win The Republic of Ireland's women's team came from behind to beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Cork last week, with substitute Amber Barrett scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time. The match drew a crowd of over 12,000 supporters to the stadium. Carla Ward's squad now sit second in Group A2, just one point behind group leaders France. Barrett's late strike kept Ireland's qualification hopes alive ahead of their next fixture. ## No room for complacency Despite the narrow victory, Barrett emphasized that the team will not underestimate France in their upcoming clash. She noted that France remains a formidable opponent despite Ireland's three-match unbeaten run. Ward had already made her team's intentions clear all week, insisting they would aim for victory rather than settle for a draw. Barrett described Tuesday's match as a 'cup final,' highlighting its importance. ## Playing with house money Barrett suggested Ireland have nothing to lose against France because of their strong position in the group. Even if they fail to win on Tuesday, they still have a seeded play-off spot secured for later this year. She told reporters after the Netherlands game that the team started the campaign focused only on avoiding a last-place finish. Barrett reiterated that their mentality remains unchanged heading into the next match. ## France remain tough challenge France had defeated Ireland 2-1 in Dublin back in March, showing their ability to break down Ward's side. Barrett acknowledged the French side's quality despite her team's recent strong form. She called the upcoming fixture a massive game and stressed the need to recover and prepare thoroughly. The striker also urged her teammates to enjoy the moment while maintaining focus on the task ahead. ## Team focus ahead of clash Ireland's players are treating Tuesday's match against France as a must-win game to secure automatic qualification. They recognize the opportunity to book back-to-back World Cup appearances if they triumph in Grenoble. Barrett's winning goal against the Netherlands has given the team momentum going into the high-stakes encounter. Ward's squad is determined to capitalize on their current position in the group standings.