Republic of Ireland and France Draw in World Cup Qualifying Clash

Tallaght Stadium, Dublin – In a tightly contested match, the Republic of Ireland and France played to a 0-0 draw in their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Qualifying match on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The game, part of the UEFA League Phase, saw both teams battle for crucial points in their qualifying campaigns.

Match Highlights

The match featured a strong defensive display from both sides, resulting in a scoreless first half. Katie McCabe captained the Republic of Ireland, whereas Melvine Malard led the French attack. France dominated possession with 74.2% of the ball, but Ireland managed to create several scoring opportunities, registering 6 shots on goal compared to France’s 2.

Late in the second half, Melvine Malard broke the deadlock for France, scoring in the 71st and 79th minutes. However, the Republic of Ireland responded quickly with a goal from Katie McCabe in the 12th minute, leveling the score.

Team Lineups and Substitutions

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan, Caitlin Hayes, Chloe Mustaki, Anna Patten, Katie McCabe, Aoife Mannion, Megan Connolly, Marissa Sheva, Denise O’Sullivan, Emily Murphy, Kyra Carusa. Substitutions included Abbie Larkin, Amber Barrett, Jamie Finn, Leanne Kiernan, Jessie Stapleton, Lucy Quinn, Sophie Whitehouse, Ruesha Littlejohn, Grace Moloney, Tara O’Hanlon, and Saoirse Noonan.

France: The French lineup included key players such as Elisa de Almeida, Perle Morroni, Kadidiatou Diani, and Oriane Jean-Francois. Substitutions were made throughout the second half, with Melvine Malard and Dieumerci Ndongala entering the game, along with Alice Sombath and Anaïs Ebayilin.

Match Statistics

• Possession: Republic of Ireland 25.8% – France 74.2%
• Shots on Goal: Republic of Ireland 6 – France 2
• Shot Attempts: Republic of Ireland 8 – France 13
• Yellow Cards: Republic of Ireland 1 – France 1
• Corner Kicks: Republic of Ireland 3 – France 8
• Saves: Republic of Ireland 0 – France 5

Other World Cup Qualifying Results

Elsewhere in Women’s World Cup qualifying, Caroline Weir scored a hat trick as Scotland defeated Luxembourg 5-0. England similarly secured a resounding victory, defeating Ukraine 6-1 in their opening qualifier. Barcelona’s Aitana Bonmatí will be sidelined for at least three months due to a leg break.

Looking Ahead

Both the Republic of Ireland and France will continue their World Cup qualifying campaigns with upcoming matches. The results of these matches will be crucial as they vie for a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.