Republic of Ireland drawn with co-hosts Australia in Women’s World Cup group

The Republic of Ireland were drawn in Group B in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in a difficult group with host Australia, Canada and Nigeria.

Canada were the highest ranked team Ireland could have drawn from Pot 2 and Nigeria were the second highest team from Pot 4. Ireland will play all their games in Australia, including if they advance out of the group, with their group games in Sydney (against Australia), Perth (Canada) and Brisbane (Nigeria).

Australia are ranked 13^th in the world but Ireland did defeat them last time they played – a 3-2 victory in Tallaght last year. Canada have a ranking of seven while Nigeria are 45^th compared with Ireland’s current ranking of 24.

Vera Pauw’s side will begin their campaign on the very first day of the tournament. They will play Australia in Sydney on Thursday 20 July. The tournament’s opening ceremony and opening game (between New Zealand and Norway) will take place at Eden Park in Auckland earlier that day.

Wednesday 27 July will see the Ireland face Nigeria in Brisbane with the final group game against Canada on Monday 31 July in the Perth Rectangular Stadium. 

This is the ninth edition of the Women’s World Cup after the first was held in 1991 and is taking places across ten stadiums in nine host cities. The tournament, with its 32 teams and 64 matches, will take place from 20 July to 20 August with the final at Stadium Australia in Sydney. 

Group B in full:
Australia 🇦🇺
Republic of Ireland 🇮🇪
Nigeria 🇳🇬
Canada 🇨🇦
#FIFAWWC

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 22, 2022