The trailblazing and history-making Irish Women’s team will compete at the World Cup for the first time ever in 2023 and the Girls in Green will be determined to make a big impact when they make their bow in Australia and New Zealand.
Ranked as massive outsiders ahead of the action, Ireland will share Group B with co-hosts Australia, Olympic champions Canada and a dangerous Nigerian outfit. Though most observers have tipped the debutants for an early exit, Ireland have the grit and sprinkling of stardust to compete down under.
Below, we’ve taken a closer look at the Ireland squad, which is managed by Dutch Head Coach Vera Pauw. Can the Irish punch above their weight at their first World Cup tournament?
Contents
Goalkeepers
- Courtney Brosnan (Everton)
- Grace Moloney (Reading)
- Megan Walsh (Free Agent)
Defenders
- Louise Quinn (Birmingham City)
- Niamh Fahey (Liverpool)
- Claire O'Riordan (Celtic)
- Chloe Mustaki (Bristol City)
- Diane Caldwell (Reading)
- Aine O'Gorman (Shamrock Rovers)
- Izzy Atkinson (West Ham)
- Heather Payne (Florida State University)
Midfielders
- Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
- Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage)
- Megan Connolly (Free Agent)
- Sinead Farrelly (NY/NJ Gotham)
- Lily Agg (London City Lionesses)
- Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City)
- Ruesha Littlejohn (Free Agent)
- Ciara Grant (Hearts)
Forwards
- Kyra Carusa (London City Lionesses)
- Amber Barrett (Standard Liege)
- Marissa Sheva (Washington Spirit)
- Abbie Larkin (Shamrock Rovers)
Ireland Women's World Cup Key Players
Ireland Women were beaten just once during their World Cup qualification campaign, scoring 26 times and conceding just four goals along the way. They possess an excellent mix of energy and experience, with a couple of genuine world-beaters chucked in for good measure.
Courtney Brosnan
Courtney Brosnan is Ireland’s first-choice stopper and the Everton star has been a key figure in the country’s resurgence under Vera Pauw. Before facing reigning World Cup champions USA in April, Brosnan went a full year without conceding a goal, and her lightning reflexes should be pivotal to Ireland’s chances of success in Group B.
Niamh Fahey
35-year-old Liverpool captain Niamh Fahey is usually one of the first names on the teamsheet for Ireland at the back, though the defender is also versatile enough to fill in further forward in midfield if required.
Fahey has buckets of top-level experience having represented Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea during her career and she has amassed 16 winners’ medals at club level during her career.
Katie McCabe
The jewel in the crown and poster girl of Irish women’s football, Katie McCabe will skipper Ireland at the World Cup and the combative midfielder has a blend of steel and technique sharp enough to grace any other team in the tournament.
McCabe was one of Arsenal’s best players during the Gunners’ WSL and Champions League campaigns last season. The 27-year-old made the UCL Team of the Year for her displays.
Denise O’Sullivan
Gifted playmaker Denise O’Sullivan scored six times during Ireland’s qualification campaign and the 29-year-old combines laser-like passing with an incessant work rate. Her coach, Vera Pauw, has described O’Sullivan as one of the best midfielders in the world.
Amber Barrett
Forward Amber Barrett scored the goal against Scotland in the playoffs that booked Ireland their place at the World Cup and the 27-year-old’s nose for the big occasion should come in handy. Barrett recently signed with Belgian side Standard Liege at club level.
Louise Quinn
At both ends of the pitch, 33-year-old Birmingham defender Louise Quinn is a key cog in Ireland’s machine. Alongside tending to her defensive duties, Quinn is a menacing presence in the air from set pieces at the opposite end.
Megan Connolly
Attacking midfielder Megan Connolly chipped in with some key moments during Ireland’s World Cup qualification campaign and she possesses enough quality to make her mark at the tournament proper. Connolly has just let Brighton, where she was captain, on a free transfer.
Dear Ireland…
Ní neart go cur le chéile 💚#COYGIG | #OUTBELIEVE pic.twitter.com/OZnx3q8B9C
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 19, 2023
Ireland Women's World Cup Fixtures
Ireland will play all of their Group B fixtures in Australia, though they will clock up over 4,000 miles in the air in 11 days while hopping between venues to play Australia, Canada and Nigeria.
July 20 – Australia v Ireland, Stadium Australia, Sydney, KO 11:00
July 26 – Canada v Ireland, Rectangular Stadium, Perth, KO 13:00
July 31 – Ireland v Nigeria, Lang Park, Brisbane, KO 11:00
Ireland Women's World Cup Predictions
Ireland will make history when they compete at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, though little is expected of the Girls in Green in terms of progression.
Making it out of Group B would be considered a monumental achievement in itself, though Ireland could ruffle quite a few feathers, especially when backed by a huge Irish diaspora of supporters in OZ.
Arsenal’s Katie McCabe can win games on her own, though Ireland aren’t overly-reliant on their star turn and they are well organised enough as a unit to provide tricky opposition to just about anyone.
