Ireland will face four-time champions Brazil in the group stages of the U-17 World Cup finals in Qatar later this year. Qualification for the 2026 finals came through European Championship qualifiers, including a 7-0 win over Slovakia under coach Mark Connors. Ireland will also play Tanzania and Costa Rica in the group phase and will appear at their second successive U-17 World Cup finals. Ireland’s group opener is against Brazil on November 21. At last year’s finals, Ireland topped a group with Panama, Uzbekistan, and Paraguay, beat Canada in the knockout phase, and then lost 3-1 to Switzerland. Josh Harpur, Seán Spaight, and Victor Ozhianvuna were part of the qualification group.
"Ireland will face four-time champions Brazil in the group stages of the U-17 World Cup finals in Qatar later this year. Performances in the European Championship qualifiers, notably a 7-0 win over Slovakia under coach Mark Connors, had secured Ireland a place at the 2026 finals. In addition to Brazil, Ireland, who will be appearing at their second successive U-17 World Cup finals, have also drawn Tanzania and Costa Rica in the group stages of the tournament."
"Ireland will open their group phase against the Brazilians on November 21. Brazil's most recent success at the U-17 World Cup came in 2019; Portugal are the reigning champions. In last year's finals, Ireland, led by then-manager Colin O'Brien, topped a group including Panama, Uzbekistan and Paraguay. They then beat Canada in the knockout phase, before a 3-1 loss to Switzerland."
"Josh Harpur (Bohemians), Seán Spaight (Dundalk) and Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers), who have played first-team football in the Premier Division this season, were part of the group that secured qualification through the Euros."
Read at Irish Independent
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