Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson described his overriding emotion as "pain" after his side lost a World Cup play-off to the Czech Republic. The match in Prague ended in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after extra time. Ireland failed to convert three of their spot-kicks, resulting in a 3-1 victory for the hosts on penalties, per Sky Sports.
Hallgrimsson took charge of the team in 2024 and had aimed to lead the nation to its first major tournament since 2016. According to The Guardian, the defeat confirms Ireland will not participate in the 2026 World Cup finals. The manager noted the performance showed progress but lamented the clinical nature of the opposition during the shootout.
The Czech Republic progresses to the final stage of qualification while Ireland prepares for the upcoming Nations League cycle. The result marks the end of a campaign where Ireland finished third in their initial qualifying group before entering the play-off system, according to RTE Sport.
