Republic of Ireland at the FIFA World Cup
The Republic of Ireland have appeared in the Men's FIFA World Cup on three occasions, in 1990, 1994, and 2002. They have always advanced from the group stage but have never advanced beyond the quarter-finals.
Their first appearance was in Italy at the 1990 Men's FIFA World Cup.[1][2][3][4][5] 1990 was also their best performance in a major championship, where they reached the quarter-finals, despite not winning a single match in 90 minutes.[6][7][8]
Overall record
FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||
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Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Position | |
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Did not enter | Declined participation | ||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 3/3 | ||||||||
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2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2/2 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 3/3 | |||||||||
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3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | Lost Play-off | |||||||||
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6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | 4/4 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2/3 | |||||||||
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4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3/3 | |||||||||
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8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 3/5 | |||||||||
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8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 4/5 | |||||||||
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Quarter-finals | 8th | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2/5 | |
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Round of 16 | 15th | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 6 | 2/7 | |
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Did not qualify | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 11 | 2/6; Lost Play-off | ||||||||
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Round of 16 | 12th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 6 | 2/6; Won Play-off | |
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Did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 5 | 4/6 | ||||||||
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12 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 10 | 2/6; Lost Play-off | |||||||||
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10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 17 | 4/6 | |||||||||
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12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 2/6; Lost Play-off | |||||||||
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8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 3/5 | |||||||||
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To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||
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Total | Quarter-finals | 3/25 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 149 | 58 | 46 | 45 | 210 | 177 | — |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
List of FIFA World Cup matches | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Score | Result | Republic of Ireland scorers |
1990 | Group stage | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Kevin Sheedy ![]() |
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Draw | Niall Quinn ![]() | ||
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Draw | — | ||
Round of 16 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | — | |
Quarter-finals | ![]() ![]() |
Loss | — | |
1994 | Group stage | ![]() ![]() |
Win | Ray Houghton ![]() |
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Loss | John Aldridge ![]() | ||
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Draw | — | ||
Round of 16 | ![]() ![]() |
Loss | — | |
2002 | Group stage | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Matt Holland ![]() |
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Draw | Robbie Keane ![]() | ||
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Win | Robbie Keane ![]() Gary Breen ![]() Damien Duff ![]() | ||
Round of 16 | ![]() ![]() |
Draw | Robbie Keane ![]() |
1990 World Cup
Group F
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
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3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
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3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
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3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 2 |
Note: Republic of Ireland awarded second place by drawing of lots
England ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Lineker ![]() |
(Report) | Sheedy ![]() |
Netherlands ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Gullit ![]() |
(Report) | Quinn ![]() |
Knockout phase
Republic of Ireland ![]() | 0 – 0 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) | ||
Penalties | ||
Sheedy ![]() Houghton ![]() Townsend ![]() Cascarino ![]() O'Leary ![]() |
5–4 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Italy ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Schillaci ![]() |
(Report) |
1994 World Cup
Group E
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Italy ![]() | 0–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) | Houghton ![]() |
Mexico ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
García ![]() ![]() |
(Report) | Aldridge ![]() |
Knockout phase
Netherlands ![]() | 2–0 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Bergkamp ![]() Jonk ![]() |
(Report) |
2002 World Cup
Group E
Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 7 |
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3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 5 |
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3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4 |
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3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | −12 | 0 |
Republic of Ireland ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Holland ![]() |
(Report) | Mboma ![]() |
Germany ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() |
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Klose ![]() |
(Report) | Robbie Keane ![]() |
Saudi Arabia ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
(Report) | Robbie Keane ![]() Breen ![]() Duff ![]() |
Knockout phase
Spain ![]() | 1 – 1 (a.e.t.) | ![]() |
---|---|---|
Morientes ![]() |
(Report) | Robbie Keane ![]() |
Penalties | ||
Hierro ![]() Baraja ![]() Juanfran ![]() Valerón ![]() Mendieta ![]() |
3–2 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Record players
Defender Steve Staunton has represented the Irish team in all of their thirteen World Cup matches, captaining the side in 2002.
Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Steve Staunton | 13 | 1990, 1994, 2002 |
2 | Pat Bonner | 9 | 1990, 1994 |
Ray Houghton | 9 | 1990, 1994 | |
Paul McGrath | 9 | 1990, 1994 | |
Andy Townsend | 9 | 1990, 1994 | |
6 | John Aldridge | 8 | 1990, 1994 |
7 | Niall Quinn | 7 | 1990, 2002 |
8 | Tony Cascarino | 6 | 1990, 1994 |
Gary Kelly | 6 | 1994, 2002 | |
Jason McAteer | 6 | 1994, 2002 |
Goalscorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Tournaments |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Robbie Keane | 3 | 2002 |
2 | Niall Quinn | 1 | 1990 |
Kevin Sheedy | 1 | 1990 | |
John Aldridge | 1 | 1994 | |
Ray Houghton | 1 | 1994 | |
Gary Breen | 1 | 2002 | |
Damien Duff | 1 | 2002 | |
Matt Holland | 1 | 2002 |
See also
- Republic of Ireland at the UEFA European Championship
- Republic of Ireland at the UEFA Nations League
References
- ^ "1990 FIFA World Cup". Irish Independent. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Ireland's Italia '90 squad – where are they now?". RTE Sport. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "Niall Quinn: 'People can talk about the ramshackle Irish team, but we knew what the real story was'". Irish Examiner. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "24 World Cup memories we won't forget from Italia '90". The 42. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- ^ "On Second Thoughts: Italia 90". Guardian. 14 October 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "11 iconic images that bring back memories of the Italia 90 good times". The 42. 15 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
- ^ "Where are Ireland's Italia 90 dream team now?". The 42. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
- ^ "Italia '90". Irish Times. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.