Ireland v Qatar Preview
Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson has indicated he will field an “experienced” side for tonight’s international friendly at home to Qatar (Aviva Stadium, KO 7.45, RTE 2). Despite calling up several uncapped players for the upcoming games against Qatar and Canada, including four players from the League of Ireland, the former Iceland manager looks set to stick with some of his more tried & test for this evening’s game.
Sadly, these matches see Ireland acting as warm-up opponents for sides who will be competing in the upcoming World Cup, which Ireland heartbreaking missed out on following an agonising penalty shootout defeat in Prague in March.
Since then, attention has turned to readying the Boys in Green for the start of the Nations League in the autumn, while longer-term planning is already taking place with a view to Ireland most likely being a part of EURO 2028, as one of the host nations.
Troy Parrott’s November heroics against Portugal and Hungary have generated a newfound buzz and belief in this Irish team among the public, so even though this is little more than a friendly, Hallgrímsson will be keen to keep the positive momentum going with a win in Dublin.
Ireland Form Guide
This is Ireland’s second game in the space of just a few weeks, with a very new look side dispatching Grenada 5-0 in a friendly, played in Murcia, Spain. That match capped off a warm-weather training camp where Ireland also played a behind-closed-doors friendly against Murcia B, with the Boys in Green winning 2-0.
Jack Moylan scored a hat-trick on his international debut against Grenada, while Tom Cannon bagged a brace. After a long club season with Lincoln, Moylan was set to be rested for this latest international window, but some late withdrawals prompted Hallgrímsson to pick up the phone to the former Shelbourne midfielder once again. Moylan will be keen to take his chance to impress should it come again.
Qatar Form Guide
Qatar qualified for the World Cup for the first time, having been the host nation four years ago, by overcoming Oman and the UAE in the play-offs. Ranked four spots higher than Ireland in the FIFA World rankings at 55, they’re currently winless in four matches (3L, 1D) after a poor showing at the recent Arab Cup, where they were defeated by both Palestine and Tunisia.
Ireland v Qatar Head-to-Head Form
This will be the third-ever meeting between the countries after two friendly meetings in 2021. Ireland were comfortable 4-0 winners in the game played in Dublin, while the initial meeting played in Hungary ended 1-1.
Ireland v Qatar Key Players
Ireland
Troy Parrott has been deemed fit to feature after a recent injury scare. As mentioned earlier, Parrott fever gripped the nation over the past six months or so, and the AZ striker needs to keep his form up in a green jersey. Ireland hasn’t had a talisman in front of goal since the days of Robbie Keane, so having a fit and firing Parrott gives this Irish team the belief that they can compete on any given day.
It’s interesting to note that Mason Melia has been given the number nine jersey for tonight’s game. Melia was a star in the League of Ireland last season with St.Patrick’s Athletic and has since moved to Tottenham, where he has been scoring goals for the U21’s. I’d expect Melia to replace Parrott at some point this evening.
Speculation continues over Seamus Coleman’s future, the now former Everton man is in the squad tonight and will get a hero’s welcome from the home faithful to make up for his poor send-off at the Hill Dickinson Stadium recently.
Jack Moylan will be hoping to add to his debut hat-trick in Murcia.
Qatar
Only Erling Haaland (16) scored more goals in qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup than Qatar’s Almoez Ali (12). Qatar are managed by former Wolves and West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
Ireland v Qatar Match Prediction
With all due respect to Qatar, who, after all, are heading to the World Cup, it’s much easier to qualify through the route they did than the European qualifiers in which Ireland so bravely contested. Having beaten both Portugal and Qatar before going down on their sword against Czechia, facing Qatar is a big step down in quality.
It took Ireland forty-five minutes to break down a very weak Grenada a few weeks ago, but that was a new-look Ireland team playing in sweltering heat. While it’s warm in Dublin at the moment, this will be a much more familiar Irish XI that starts the game, and they may replicate the quick start that they made in Prague.
Verdict: Ireland 3-0 Qatar (9/1)
Ireland v Qatar Bet Builder
Here’s a bet builder for tonight’s game at the Aviva Stadium.
- Ireland to win both halves (16/5)
- Both Teams to Score: NO (4/5)
- Mason Melia Anytime Goalscorer (8/5)
- Bet Builder Odds: 15/2
