Republic of Ireland Women's Football Team

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Republic of Ireland defender Caitlin Hayes said that the players are focusing on their Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Belgium and not issues surrounding the Football Association Ireland [FAI].

During her press conference on Monday, head coach Carla Ward was repeatedly asked about allegations of gender discrimination made by her predecessor Eileen Gleeson.

The Brighton defender admitted that outside noise has been a distraction but believes that while players are aware of well publicised problems with the FAI, they are fully concentrated on matters on the pitch.

"I think there are people fighting in our corner for what we want and need to be the best team we can be," she told BBC Sport NI.

"When it comes down to it it's all about the football. A storm is a storm; you can be inside a house and not know a storm is happening so inside the camp it's a home we've built, and we focus on what's inside and not pay attention to outside."

The 30-year-old said it would "mean everything" to Republic of Ireland if they can overcome Belgium, a side ranked seven places higher than them in the world rankings, and reach League A.

That is a move which would improve their seeding for the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers.

"It's important to play well and get a win it will get us into League A and that's the main goal and what we want to achieve so fingers crossed. It'll be a tough test," she added.

The first leg takes place at the Aviva Stadium on Friday and the Brighton centre-back is relishing the chance to play at the venue.

That is despite questions around whether the team would be better playing at a more intimate venue like Tallaght given just 15,000 tickets have been sold for the Aviva.

"The Aviva is my first choice. Pressure is a privilege, no player in this squad would turn down the opportunity to play at the Aviva and play in big games so it's a massive opportunity."

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Republic of Ireland midfielder Jess Ziu said that winning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League can only aid her side's development.

Carla Ward's team have the chance to return to League A if they beat Belgium over the course of their two-legged promotion/relegation play-off.

While a move into the top flight would also improve their seeding for the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers, Ziu believes the chance to play against the bigger nations on a regular basis is also a huge incentive.

"I think first of all, everyone wants to be playing in League A, bigger teams, more spotlight, but then also it helps with World Cup play-offs with what seed we can get so it's important we go into the game wanting to win and get into League A," she told BBC Sport NI.

"It is going to be harder for us [playing in League A] but ultimately we want to be playing the best teams."

Ziu, who is on loan at Bristol City from West Ham, will come up against friend and roommate Amber Tysiak when the Irish take on Belgium at the Aviva Stadium in Friday's first leg.

" I've been playing with her at West Ham for three years now so we're quite close," she added.

"I've been messaging her back and forth about the game and jersey swaps. When it comes to football on the pitch, there are no friends, once the final whistle goes, I'll speak to her."

The 23-year-old is back in the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time since July 2024 after recovering from a second anterior cruciate ligament injury [ACL] in the space of three years and wants to savour being back in camp.

"I rehabbed one ACL already, came back, and did the second one eight months later, so I'm just excited to see all the girls, be on the pitch and have fun."

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Republic of Ireland midfielder Jamie Finn said that her side are "relishing" the chance to play at Aviva Stadium when they take on Belgium in the first leg of their Nations League promotion/relegation play-off on Friday.

It will be the fifth time the Irish women's side have played at the Aviva, which is preferred to Tallaght Stadium, and the first time since December 2024, when they lost their Euro 2025 play-off second leg against Wales.

A win in the play-off would seal the Republic of Ireland's return to League A, a move which would improve their seeding for the 2027 Women's World Cup qualifiers, but Finn knows Belgium will provide a stern test.

"I think we'll relish playing there. It is a great stadium. Obviously, we love Tallaght, but the opportunity to play at the Aviva is great," she told BBC Sport NI.

"It's going to be tough. Belgium are a great side, we have to respect that, but we will have our own game plan and will focus on implementing that."

Finn suffered an anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] injury during Republic of Ireland training before a friendly against Italy in February 2024.

Back in the squad for the first time since that injury, the 27-year-old is hoping to add to her 16 caps but recognises the squad has gotten stronger in her absence.

"It's a really nice feeling to be back. It's nearly two years out so when I got the call to come back, I was so excited to get going," she added.

"The squad is constantly evolving. I think the quality is at its best now with people going abroad, going to full-time football and people coming in from the League of Ireland."

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Defender Megan Campbell and midfielder Denise O'Sullivan have been ruled out of the Republic of Ireland's first friendly against the USA on Friday through injury.

Campbell picked up a knock in training and O'Sullivan sustained a knee injury while playing for her club North Carolina Courage against Houston Dash in an NWSL game on Sunday.

"They're both out for this first game definitely, we'll see where we are at for the second game. Denise picked up a knock on the knee on Saturday and Megan picked up a knock in training yesterday," Ward told RTE.

They join a long list of Irish players who are unavailable for the game against the number one ranked side in the world, who the Republic have failed to beat in their previous 15 meetings.

Captain Katie McCabe has been rested and did not make the trip to America with Aoife Mannion, Heather Payne and Leanne Kiernan also absent.

Jamie Finn, Lily Agg and Jess Ziu are long-term absentees, while Aoibheann Clancy did not travel after the passing of her mother, Siobhan.

The Irish will take on Emma Hayes' side in Denver on Friday and three days later in Cincinnati.

"The size of the task is huge and when you leave people like Katie, Aoife, Heather and Leanne Kiernan at home and then you lose another couple of big players that usually start, I think that puts us in a really in a difficult spot," Ward added.

"If we can go away from the result part of it and look at, trying to implement some pieces of the puzzle that we're trying to put together, then that's got to be the focus."