Republic of Ireland to face Qatar & Canada in friendlies

The Republic of Ireland will face Qatar and Canada in summer friendlies in May and June.

Heimir Hallgrimsson's side will host Qatar, who will feature at the World Cup, at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, 28 May with kick-off set for 19:45 BST.

It will be the third meeting between the sides, with first ending in a 1-1 draw in Hungary in March 2021 and the Republic winning the second 4-0 in Dublin in October of the same year.

They will then travel to the Stade Saputo in Montreal for their first game on Canadian soil against one of the World Cup co-hosts on Saturday, 6 June with kick-off at 00:30 BST.

The Irish won 3-0 in the only previous meeting between the two sides in a friendly in November 2003.

Those two games could act as preparation for World Cup if the Republic of Ireland navigate the play-offs and qualify for the tournament for the first time since 2002.

Hallgrimsson's side are away to the Czech Republic on 26 March in the play-off semi-final.

If they win in Prague, then they would face a winner-takes-all final against either Denmark or North Macedonia at home on 31 March.

If they progress to the finals, the Republic of Ireland would face South Korea, South and hosts Mexico in Group A.