26 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Larkin wins a throw for Ireland. They work it back to Nolan and Stapleton.

Patten and Connolly get involved too before Hopcroft is turned over.

Patten then tries to send in a big delivery, but the keeper gets out to make a clean catch.

23 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Ireland come again through O’Sullivan who gets dispossessed. The attack out from defence is thwarted by Connolly who tries to set up an Ireland counter-attack on the edge of the box, but she’s penalised for her tackle, and it’s another let-off for the visitors.

21 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

NO PENALTY!

Connolly gets her head on a free out for Kazakhstan and gets Ireland moving again. O’Sullivan uses some good footwork before trying to feed Patten, but the pass is intercepted.

Nolan and Connolly then combine with Patten who puts O’Sullivan through in the corner. The Cork native does very well to dance around her opponent and into the box.

She gets taken down but the referee has no interest in the penalty appeals.

18 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Another brief break in play as goalkeeper Angelina Portnova requires treatment before getting back up to resume play.

17 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

MISS!

Another huge opportunity for Ireland. O’Sullivan cuts the ball across the goalmouth. Larkin can’t get her boot to it, and McCabe’s finish at the back post goes flying over the bar.

15 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

We’re back now as Megan Connolly’s attempted chip into the area is blocked away. Mannion feeds the ball back to Nolan and Ireland work the ball laterally over to Larkin inside the box.

They switch the play again, but the final pass ends up rolling over the endline.

14 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Play has been halted here briefly while Karina Zhumabaikyzy receives treatment.

13 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Result from the other semi-final: Poland have won 4-3 on penalties. So, Ireland know who they will be facing in the World Cup play-off final.

12 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Nolan gets back to deal with the first piece of threatening play from Kazakhstan. Denise O’Sullivan then carries the ball along the wing, but her pass inside is loose.

Ireland get it back though and move the ball back to Jessie Stapleton. Patten then combines with Shanade Hopcroft who is brought down, but the referee waves play on.

10 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Patten on the ball and tries to create something from a deep inswinger. The ball is deflected away, but Ireland still have the ball and will build again.

9 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Patten gets a free header from a corner, but there’s not enough power behind it and Kazakhstan survive again.

7 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

MISS!

Larkin looked like she got that over the line but the lines official doesn’t raise the flag. The move came from an Anna Patten pass and Larkin tried to lift it over the keeper with a slide, but the ball is cleared off the line.

Katie McCabe tries to keep it alive, but the move comes to nothing.

4 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

The other semi-final between Belgium and Poland has gone to a penalty shootout.

4 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Aoife Mannion puts in a cross but Angelina Portnova is alert to the danger. It’s the same again here in the early minutes of the second leg. Ireland are dominating possession.

3 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Hayley Nolan tries to put the ball through for Abbie Larkin but the touch lets Larkin down.

1 min: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

And it’s the hosts who get the action underway with Anna Patten putting in an early delivery that is headed away.

Kick-Off! Republic of Ireland v Kazakhstan

Back in Cork, and the anthems have been sung. It’s time to get going!

News from the other semi-final: Poland have just scored to make it 3-3 on aggregate. The game is in the 119th minute.

The teams are on their way out now. Almost time to get underway!

Just 15 minutes to go before kick-off. Do you think Ireland will exceed their 8-0 scoreline from the first leg?

In the other play-off semi-final, Belgium are leading Poland 3-2 on aggregate after scoring a goal in extra-time.

The usual blast of pre-match reading:

• Ireland target another goal-fest at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in World Cup play-offs
• ‘It discredits the team to say that… You have to play the teams that are in front of you’
• Ward calls on Ireland to ‘step up again’ against Kazakhstan as O’Sullivan closes in on record

Republic of Ireland: Courtney Brosnan; Aoife Mannion, Hayley Nolan, Anna Patten, Jessie Stapleton, Katie McCabe; Megan Connolly, Shanade Hopcroft, Denise O’Sullivan; Abbie Larkin; Emily Murphy

Kazakhstan: Angelina Portnova; Alexandra Burova, Anastassiya Nizamutdinova, Bibigul Nurusheva, Anastassiya Vlassova; Yekaterina Babshuk, Karina Zhumabaikyzy, Asselkhan Turlybekova; Aida Gaistenova; Amina Bibossynova, Fatima Satygaliyeva

As revealed by Ward at the pre-match briefing on Monday, Katie McCabe and Denise O’Sullivan start tonight after missing the first leg.

STARTING XI | Ireland v Kazakhstan Our eleven to kick us off at The Páirc ☘️ #COYGIG https://t.co/jl0B3ct2ag

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 13, 2026

Páirc Uí Chaoimh is the beautiful setting for tonight's action. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Good evening all,

Welcome along to our coverage of the second leg of this World Cup play-off semi-final between the Republic of Ireland and Kazakhstan.

With an 8-0 advantage behind them from the first leg, this should be a routine march to victory at Ireland’s second home in Cork’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Carla Ward is making some changes this evening, and we’ll be bringing you through all the live action from the 7.30pm kick-off.

As always, we want to hear from you so get in touch in the comments below with your thoughts on the game this evening.