Turns out, Staunton was so rattled by the experience that he sheepishly knocked on Jack Charlton’s hotel room door the night before the last 16 tie against the Netherlands, back at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

It was the week of World Cup draws, and both the Ireland rugby and soccer teams found out their fates for their next World Cups. While Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side is yet to confirm their place in North America next summer,

Heimir Hallgrímsson was bullishly confident on Friday, after Ireland learned their potential group stage opponents at the 2026 World Cup draw

The Ireland international scored his sixth goal in his last five appearances for the Championship side during Saturday’s 3-1 win against Birmingham.

Ireland would face a group comprising hosts Mexico, South Africa and South Korea if they progress to the World Cup

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The FIGC has confirmed that the World Cup play-off semifinal against Northern Ireland on March 26, 2026, will be played in Bergamo. Atalanta’s New Balance Stadium will host the World Cup play-off semifinal between Italy and Northern Ireland next March, the FIGC said in a statement on Thursday.

Ireland will be playing World Cup group games in the middle of the night, if they manage to negotiate March's two play-off games.