Overview
- Roberto Martínez’s side qualify automatically with a win over the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
- Heimir Hallgrímsson says Ireland must take at least a point to keep play-off hopes alive, with the Hungary–Armenia result setting the target.
- Ireland will stick to a risk-managed game plan rather than “go all-in,” after October’s 1-0 loss in Lisbon decided by a late Rúben Neves header.
- Team news includes Evan Ferguson ruled out and several Irish suspensions and knocks, while Portugal lost Pedro Neto and Pedro Gonçalves to injury.
- Cristiano Ronaldo says 2026 will be his last World Cup and expects boos in Dublin, and Ireland’s U17s have been drawn to face Canada in the last-32 in Qatar.