Ireland manager Carla Ward got the trip to Kazakhstan and the tie she doesn’t want in the semi-finals of the World Cup play-offs next month - but a return to Cork is on the cards for a winner takes all clash with recent foes Belgium or Poland.
A place at next year’s finals in Brazil is at stake when Ireland go to Kazakhstan for the first left of the semi-finals against the side ranked 100th in the world.
Belgium or Poland will meet in the other semi-final - Ireland beat Poland home and away in the Nations League recently and defeated Belgium 5-4 on aggregate in the NL play-offs last year.
RTE Sport reports on Ward’s reaction to the draw when she said: “When you want to get to Brazil it’s going to be a difficult route and I think there’s a couple of bits in both rounds that will naturally cause us some difficulties.
“We’ve been in tremendous form and confidence is high. We have to keep believing that we can get there, and we’ll do everything we can to do that.
“I think everybody in the room would probably say that it was the one that everyone wanted to avoid, Belgium and Poland are top sides.
“First of all we’ve got to get past Kazakhstan, it’s not easy, it’s a logistical nightmare. Kazakhstan, Poland and Belgium are all going to be difficult. So look, we’ll do everything we can to get over that first hurdle and then obviously try and navigate that final round if and when we get there.”
“You don’t have to ask me twice about Cork. I absolutely love it down there and I think the players do too. It’s not been confirmed where we’ll play, but we would love to have one in Dublin and one in Cork. I think that would be the ultimate dream. We’ll have to wait and see and let the powers that be look after that side of it.”
Ireland’s Nations League clash with Israel has hit the headlines again after the Palestine Football Association distanced itself from the FAI statement confirming that the ‘home’ game will now be played at a neutral venue.
The FAI had quoted support from the PLA when they made their original announcement but a new statement has confirmed the PLA’s objections to any Israeli involvement in sport.
The Irish Sun reports that a PFA spokesperson said: “The PFA has not issued any statement endorsing, approving, or supporting the decision to proceed with the match. Any interpretation suggesting that the PFA has given its blessing to the fixture does not accurately reflect our position.
“The PFA also wishes to reiterate its deep appreciation for the historic solidarity shown by the Irish people and for the principled positions repeatedly expressed by the Football Association of Ireland, Irish clubs, supporters, players, trade unions, civil society organisations, and public representatives in the support of Palestinian rights and human dignity.
“At the same time, our position regarding Israeli football remains unchanged and unequivocal. Palestinian football is enduring one of the darkest periods in its history.
“For this reason, the PFA rejects any characterisation that could be interpreted as providing political or moral cover for Israel’s continued participation in international football while these grave violations persist.
“The PFA would not, and will not, be party to any effort that normalises these realities or contributes to the sportwashing of crimes committed against the Palestinian people.”
The Board of the FAI is now expected to call an EGM to discuss the decision to move the Israel game to a neutral venue after rejecting a call for such a meeting because not enough delegates had formally put their names to the request.
The request was made by 14 parties but the FAI has confirmed in a letter to AGM members that two of those were not from FAI members and thus the call for an EGM was invalid.
The Irish Independent reports that the FAI told members: “Only letters from members of the FAI can be counted for the purposes of the constitutional requisition threshold.
“Accordingly, the requisition received on or around 29 May 2026 is invalid and does not require the board to convene an extraordinary general meeting.
“The board is considering how best to facilitate appropriate discussion of the issues raised, including the possibility of the board itself convening an extraordinary general meeting of the general assembly.”
Celtic will have to wait to commence their defence of the Scottish Premiership title defence due to a combination of the Commonwealth Games and two Calvin Harris concerts - and the BBC reports that club officials are not best pleased.
Derek McInnes will start his new life as Rangers boss on Friday July 31st at Dundee United but Celtic won’t play Dundee until the Monday evening.
“We feel strongly a weekend timing should have been facilitated in the interests of both teams, both sets of supporters and the status of the fixture,” said a statement from Celtic who will play Rangers for the first time next season on September 20th.
Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds wants to sign on-loan midfielder Harry Vaughan on a permanent deal when his Hull City contract expires at the end of the month.
The Irish Mirror reports that Reynolds wants the deal wrapped up before the Europa Conference League game against St Joseph’s of Gibraltar next month.
Reynolds said: “There’s talks going on at the minute. He’s enjoying it, obviously looking at the European football and so on. So, we should know more in the next... Look, he’s out of contract so, the ball’s in his court, really, isn’t it? We’d like to keep him.”
