Irish fans flood Prague as Ireland chase vital World Cup playoff win

Thousands of Irish football supporters are descending on Prague as the Boys In Green seek to qualify for their first World Cup appearance since 2022.

Ireland’s dream of reaching next summer’s tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico was bolstered in November, when Troy Parrott’s last -ditch winner sealed a dramatic win against Hungary.

Today, Heimir Hallgrímsson’s side will take on Czechia in arguably the most important game Ireland will have played for a generation, with a semi-final qualification spot at stake.

On Wednesday, Cork Airport was awash of Irish supporters departing for Prague, full of excitement and overall hopeful for an Irish victory.

Michael Deasy, who lives in Carrigtwohill, said anticpation ahead of today’s showdown has reached fever pitch.

“There are young people in the airport today, and they never saw Italia ‘90. They never experienced what we experienced when we were their age. Hopefully, they can get a bit of a taste for it this time around.

“Ireland deserves to be in a major tournament. The crowd that we bring with us and the atmosphere is incredible.”

Dave O’Connell, part of a contingent from Doughlas Hall AFC, said that while they do not actually have tickets, there was no place other than Prague they would rather be travelling to.

Get the job done

“Hopefully they can get the job done and bring it back to Dublin for the final on Tuesday. I think this team does deserve to get to the World Cup,” he said.

He said that the Ireland football teams unite the nation like no other sporting team in the country.

“There is no better sport to bring people together and the country together. Everyone still remembers Italia ‘90, all the great things that happened during and after that.

"It has been a long time since we qualified for the World Cup. I think that this team under the new manager has done really well.”

Dáire Coughlan from Bishopstown, head coach of the Cork City FC men’s amputee side, has been soaking up the atmosphere in Prague since Monday night.

He said the sense of anticipation is growing, and will only grow over as kickoff edges ever closer, as more Irish supporters arrive into the Czech capital.

“The excitement is building. I can only imagine what the next 24 hours is going to be like,” he said.

“But you can definitely feel there is a bit of a green invasion on its way.”

As someone who regularly attends Ireland away games, Mr Coughlan said he would dearly love to see Ireland line out at a World Cup again.

“Tournament football is where we want to be. We are hoping to bring the sea of green to Mexico and into the US in the summer.”