Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has included Harvey Vale in his 24-man squad for the upcoming World Cup play-off semi-final. The fixture against the Czech Republic takes place next week. Vale, who previously captained England to victory in the 2022 European Under-19 Championship, qualifies for Ireland through his grandparents, according to The Athletic.
The Chelsea midfielder represents one of several changes made by Hallgrimsson for the knockout fixture. Ireland secured their place in the play-offs following a third-place finish in their qualifying group. The winner of the match will progress to a final against either Scotland or Poland for a spot at the 2026 World Cup, per Sky Sports.
Vale has yet to make a senior appearance for his birth country and remains eligible for the switch under FIFA rules. The Football Association of Ireland confirmed the player's documentation was processed earlier this month. He joins a midfield unit that includes Josh Cullen and Jason Knight for the training camp in Dublin.
