Ireland face Kazakhstan in World Cup play-off with McCabe and Sheva suspended

The Republic of Ireland face Kazakhstan at Astana Arena on Friday, 9 October, in the first leg of a 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off. Captain Katie McCabe and midfielder Marissa Sheva are suspended for the match, while Denise O’Sullivan has not travelled. The two-legged tie determines which side moves into the final qualifying round for next year’s tournament in Brazil.

Ireland are ranked 21st in the world and Kazakhstan 98th, according to The Irish Times, but manager Carla Ward has warned against treating the away leg as a formality. The return match is scheduled for Tuesday, 13 October, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork. Whoever wins the tie will then face Belgium or Poland over two legs for a World Cup place.

Which Ireland players are missing in Astana?

The Football Association of Ireland named a 25-player squad for the Kazakhstan tie and confirmed that McCabe and Sheva would miss the first leg through suspension. It also said O’Sullivan would not travel. The Irish Times reported that the Gotham FC midfielder was being rested because of a knee problem and was expected to be available for the Cork leg. That expectation is separate from a confirmed selection for the return match.

Jess Ziu is also out of the Astana match with a shin injury, according to RTÉ and The Irish Times. RTÉ said she could recover in time for the second leg, although her availability remains uncertain. The FAI separately listed Tara O’Hanlon, with a hamstring injury, and Saoirse Noonan, with an ankle injury, as unavailable when it announced the squad.

Who could step up for Ireland?

Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft has received her first Ireland call-up. The FAI said she qualifies through her grandmother Nora Hopcroft, who is from Tubbercurry in County Sligo. The Irish Times reported that the 29-year-old could make her international debut in Astana. Ward said Hopcroft had looked good in her first few training sessions and could get on the ball, connect parts of the team and play forward.

The Irish Times identified Emily Murphy and Abbie Larkin as players whose emergence has eased some concern about losing O’Sullivan and McCabe for the opening leg. It also reported Ward’s praise for Larkin’s recent form in an Ireland shirt. Those assessments point to options for the manager, but the lineup will only be settled when Ireland name their team for the match.

RTÉ reported that Ireland flew to Astana by charter plane on Monday, a journey of about 10 and a half hours. The four-hour time difference and the artificial surface at Astana Arena are further adjustments for Ward’s squad. RTÉ linked the pitch to the decision to leave O’Sullivan at home while she manages her knee; The Irish Times also cited the demands of the long round trip.

What awaits the winner of Ireland against Kazakhstan?

Ward has said the difference in the teams’ rankings will not change Ireland’s preparation. ‘It does not matter who we are playing, Kazakhstan, France, Brazil, Netherlands – this is the business end of it, so we will prepare like we would prepare for anyone,’ she told RTÉ, according to The Irish Times. RTÉ reported that Ward expects a direct Kazakhstan side and wants Ireland ready for balls played behind their defence.

The FAI says the countries have met twice before at senior women’s level, both in 2009 World Cup qualifying. Ireland won each match 2-1. Those results provide a limited precedent: the teams now meet in a different qualifying campaign, with the outcome to be decided across the Astana and Cork legs. The first match had yet to be played when the previews were published.

The FAI says the winner of this play-off advances to face either Belgium or Poland in Round Two. The Irish Times reported that the next two-legged round is scheduled between 26 November and 5 December, with its winner qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. For Ireland, the immediate task is to take a result from Astana while managing the first-leg absences, before the tie is completed in Cork.