Is Ireland vs Czechia on TV? How to watch 2026 World Cup play-off semi-final
Join the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletter and get behind-the-scenes access and unrivalled insightJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney: Inside Football newsletterThe Republic of Ireland travel to Prague to take on the Czech Republic on Thursday, with both sides just two matches away from the 2026 World Cup. Ireland reached the play-offs in dramatic fashion with memorable wins in November over Portugal and Hungary, with Troy Parrott scoring a stoppage-time winner in Budapest amid incredible scenes. It secured a second-place finish and a play-off spot. Ireland have not played at a World Cup finals since 2002. Czechia, meanwhile, are also in the play-offs courtesy of a second-place finish in their group behind Croatia, pipping the Faroe Islands to the runner-up spot.The winner of Thursday’s match - which will go to extra-time and penalties if necessary - will host either Denmark or North Macedonia on Tuesday 31 March for the right to play in the showpiece event this summer. Excruciatingly, the losers of both ties will also face off, in what would amount to a friendly nobody wants to play.Here’s everything you need to knowWhen is Czech Republic vs Ireland?Czech Republic vs Republic of Ireland is due to kick off at 7:45pm GMT on Thursday 26 March at the Fortuna Arena in Prague. How can I watch it?In the United Kingdom, the match will be streamed live on Prime Video via pay-per-view. The tie will be available to buy for £2.49, with coverage starting at 7:35pm. In Ireland, the match will be broadcast on RTE Two and streamed free on RTE Player.Can Troy Parrott be Ireland’s hero again? (Getty Images)Team news The big news from the Czech camp is that West Ham’s Tomas Soucek, recently stripped of the captaincy, looks set to miss out on a place in the starting XI. Patrik Schick is expected to lead the line up front. Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Thursday’s match, with star striker Parrott fit and raring to go in Prague. Defender Liam Scales is, however, suspended for one match and midfielder Josh Cullen is an injury absentee. Predicted line-upsCzech Republic XI: Kovar, Vitik, Hranac, Krejci, Coufal, Darida, Cerv, Zeleny, Karabec, Schick, ProvodIreland XI: Kelleher, O’Brien, Collins, O’Shea, Coleman, Taylor, Molumby, Manning, Ogbene, Azaz, Parrott
