The Republic of Ireland have not qualified for the World Cup since 2002, but there is a growing sense of optimism that they could be about to end their barren streak.
Ireland will be eager to book their spot in the 2026 World Cup and give themselves a chance of replicating the heroics the team produced during the 1990s.
This was a magical time for Irish football, with the Boys in Green punching above their weight in Italy in 1990 and again in the United States in 1994.
With the World Cup set to return to North America for the first time in over three decades, many people are wondering if Ireland can add to their collection of unforgettable moments.
While it is not an impossible task, the odds are stacked against them. However, Irish betting sites for the World Cup will be inundated with wagers on them to qualify if they land a favourable draw.
This would be a massive morale boost for the team and inject the belief that they can defy the odds and achieve great things in North America.
The Glory Days of the 1990s
Managed by the legendary Jack Charlton, the 1990s team was not packed with global superstars, but it had grit, determination and a clear game plan.
Ireland’s 1990 run in Italy had the entire globe glued to their screens. They failed to win any of their three group-stage games, drawing with England, Egypt and the Netherlands.
Ireland seemed destined to achieve the unthinkable when they beat Romania on penalties in the last-16 following a goalless draw, but their luck ran out when they lost 1-0 against the hosts in the quarter-finals.
It was a bittersweet feeling for the nation. Even though it ended in disappointment, their run to the last eight was a defining moment in Irish sporting history.
Charlton’s side were at it again in 1994, keen to go one better than their exploits in Italy. They did not have to wait long to avenge their narrow quarter-final defeat to Italy, beating them 1-0 in their first game. Online bookmakers in Ireland were forced to make a massive payout to Irish punters.
It proved to be their only win on American soil as they lost the subsequent game to Mexico, but a goalless draw against Norway in the final fixture was enough to earn a knockout berth.
A tough last-16 draw against the Netherlands proved to be their undoing as they fell to a 2-0 defeat, but their spirited performances cemented their reputation as solid competitors on the global stage.
Charlton subsequently stepped down as Ireland’s manager. Mick McCarthy took over and led the Boys in Green to another last-16 berth in 2002, but Irish football has fallen off a cliff since then.
Their exploits in 2002 were the last time Ireland competed at the World Cup, and it is now up to Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrímsson to end their exile and lead them to the 2026 showpiece in North America.
Ireland Eager to Repeat Their World Cup Brilliance
The 2026 World Cup will debut a new expanded format with 48 teams competing across 12 groups of four, and the increased number of slots could be a blessing for Ireland.
UEFA will now have 16 places, up from 13, which slightly improves Ireland’s chances, but they will still have to get past a fiercely competitive qualification campaign.
Ireland’s recent form has been unconvincing, and Hallgrimsson has struggled to reverse their fortunes. He has won just two of his six games in charge.
All his games have come in the UEFA Nations League, with Ireland set to compete in the relegation/promotion play-offs after finishing third in League B, Group 2, with six points.
It has not been the start to life that Hallgrimsson would have envisioned, but he needs to find a way to get the Boys in Green firing on all cylinders, especially with the World Cup qualifiers on the horizon.
One of the defining characteristics of Charlton’s teams was their unshakable belief. Regardless of the opposition, Ireland played with confidence and a refusal to back down. Hallgrimsson needs to take a page from his book to boost Ireland’s chances of success.
Recreating those heroics in 2026 will not be easy, but with the right mix of preparation and belief, the Boys in Green just might surprise everyone once again.
