Republic of Ireland thrash Kazakhstan 4-0 to reach World Cup play-off final against Poland
Ireland won 12-0 on aggregate over two legs and will face Poland in a World Cup play-off final, with the winner going to the World Cup in Brazil.
A 12-0 aggregate win in Cork
Ireland won the second leg 4-0 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in Cork on Tuesday, 13 October, taking the tie to 12-0 after an 8-0 first-leg win in Astana on Friday, 9 October. Manager Carla Ward made four changes from the first leg, and the crowd of 10,344 watched the side keep a perfect record at the Cork ground. Ten different players scored across the two legs, according to the Irish Examiner. The Irish Examiner put Ireland's attempts on target at 29 overall and used the statistics to argue that the case for UEFA to rethink the play-off format is stronger. Kazakhstan, ranked 98th in the world, packed six players into the back line and kept four more ahead of them, which left Ireland with plenty of possession but few clear openings.
- Republic of Ireland
- 12 goals
- Kazakhstan
- 0 goals
Goals in Cork
Jessie Stapleton opened the scoring in the 40th minute, heading in Anna Patten's cross at the back post. Katie McCabe found the net within three minutes of the restart, steadying herself at the edge of the box to sink a low shot past goalkeeper Angelina Portnova. Lucy Quinn then curled home a low cross from substitute Tyler Toland, and Denise O'Sullivan finished from close range four minutes later. Kazakhstan's only effort came late in the match, when Asselkhan Turlybekova's floated attempt was easily saved by Courtney Brosnan.
- Jessie Stapleton heads Ireland in front from Anna Patten's cross
- Katie McCabe scores from the edge of the box
- Quinn scores from a low cross by substitute Tyler Toland
- O'Sullivan finishes from close range
Poland's route to the final
In the other semi-final in Gdansk, Poland beat Belgium on penalties after the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate. Belgium led 1-0 from the first leg, but Ewa Pajor levelled, Amy Littel put Belgium back in front, and Paulina Tomasiak made it 2-1 on the night after 67 minutes. Jarne Teulings gave Belgium the lead again just before half-time in extra time, yet Pajor scored her second goal with four minutes left to force a shootout. Belgium missed two of their penalties, and Natalia Padilla converted the decisive kick. Ireland and Poland last met in April 2026, when Ireland won 3-2 in Gdansk and 1-0 in Dublin in World Cup qualifying.
Build-up and reaction
Members of RTÉ's panel argued before the second leg that a 9-0 aggregate win over Georgia in 2024 had not prepared the team for the play-off final against Wales, which Ireland lost 3-2 over two legs. Denise O'Sullivan disagreed with that view and said the team had been excellent in Astana.
You have to face the teams that are in front of you and that's all we can do as a team.
O'Sullivan, a veteran who had left Liverpool to join New York side Gotham, also argued that eight goals was an impressive return and that the team would aim to do even better in Cork.
To score eight goals is amazing and we'll be looking to even better than that in this second leg.
Team news and the final
O'Sullivan returned to the starting line-up after being spared the 11-hour trip to Astana, while captain Katie McCabe was reinstated following a suspension. Ireland's next step is a two-legged play-off final against Poland, and the winner qualifies for the World Cup in Brazil. The Irish Examiner reported the legs will likely be played on 1 and 5 December, with the second leg at Lansdowne Road, while RTE gave the window as late November or early December. O'Sullivan's appearance in Cork left her one short of Emma Byrne's all-time record.
