Yes, you read that correctly, a Republic Of Ireland national team are in World Cup action beginning this week when they take on Panama at 12:30pm on Wednesday. Colin O’Brien’s under 17’s became the first ever Irish side at this age group to secure qualification for the World Cup, back in March. Disappointment turned into delight for Ireland’s young guns as, despite demolishing Iceland 5-0, it was still not enough for them to qualify for the European Championships as Belgium beat them to first place. However, Ireland were the best ranked 2nd place finishing team in the European qualifiers and due to the 2025 World Cup being increased from 24 to 48 teams, this earned the boys in green a place in Doha, Qatar to compete in the under 17 World Cup.
The squad:
The Irish under 17’s World Cup team (2008 born, not to get mixed up with the current 2009 born under 17’s) played two final World Cup warm up matches last month which saw them lose 2-0 to Poland before drawing 1-1 with Switzerland in their most recent match together. These two matches helped O’Brien to choose his twenty one man squad to represent Ireland in Qatar.
Goalkeepers: 1. Alex Noonan (Shamrock Rovers),
16. George Moloney (Southampton), 21. Corey Cummins-Sheridan (Finn Harps)
Defenders: 12. Ryan Butler (Wexford FC), 2. Josh Cullen (Finn Harps), 5. Vinnie Leonard (Dundalk), 4. Oisin McDonagh (Venezia), 13. Ade Solanke (FC Lorient), 3. Finn Sherlock (Hoffenheim), 20. Sean Spaight (Dundalk)
Midfielders: 6. Rory Finneran (Captain) (Newcastle United), 15. Victor Ozhianvuna (Shamrock Rovers/Arsenal), 7. Grady McDonnell (Club Brugge), 19. Goodness Ogbonna (UCD), 8. Kian McMahon-Brown (Burnley), 10. Ramon Martos (UD Almeria)
Forwards: 17. Max Kovalevskis (Shamrock Rovers), 18. Brody Lee (Cork City), 11. Jaden Umeh (Benfica), 14. Gavin McAteer (Finn Harps), 9. Michael Noonan (Shamrock Rovers
The selected squad features 16 players from League Of Ireland academies which is significant for Irish grassroots football as it will be showcased on the world stage. Most of the players who have come from League Of Ireland academies still play in Ireland as they can’t move to England until they turn eighteen due to Brexit rules. However, this has become a huge positive for the league as many of these lads who play their football in Ireland, are receiving regular first team football. In fact, out of all 48 teams competing in Qatar this month, The Republic Of Ireland players have more combined first team minutes (13, 392) under their belt compared to any other qualified European team.
For avid League Of Ireland followers, you will be familiar with Shamrock Rovers duo Michael Noonan and Victor Ozhianvuna. Noonan has shone since joining Rovers last year, becoming the youngest ever UEFA Conference League scorer as well as amassing over 2,000 minutes of first team football which is more than anyone else in this squad. His counterpart, Ozhianvuna is one of the younger players in this team being 2009 born but he was a matchday squad regular this season for Rovers in their championship winning season. Ozhianvuna has impressed some of the world’s biggest clubs and he became the League Of Ireland’s most expensive player ever last month when it was announced that he will join Arsenal in 2027 for around two million pounds.
Now, given that these players are so young and some don’t play first team football, here are some others to keep an eye on. Cork native, winger Jaden Umeh became one of the youngest ever players to grace the League Of Ireland before earning a big move from Cork City to Portuguese giants Benfica last year who he has impressed for at under 19 level domestically and in the UEFA Youth League. Midfielder Rory Finneran will have the honours of leading the Irish side at the World Cup and whilst he plays his football for Newcastle’s under 21’s, some may remember him for becoming Blackburn Rovers youngest ever player last year at the age of 15. Finneran was so young that he couldn’t even wear the jersey with the sponsor, a vape company as he was legally too young to vape at the time. Defenders Oisin McDonagh and Ade Solanke will be commanding from the back, both play their football abroad with former Wexford first teamer, McDonagh plying his trade in Italy with Venezia, and Solanke playing with FC Lorient in France. Solanke is the only player in this squad to have represented Ireland at a major championship before, he was 14 when he faced Lamine Yamal’s Spain in the 2023 Under 17 European Championships.
Key information:
The Republic Of Ireland are in Group J and they will play Panama, Uzbekistan and Paraguay.
Fixtures: Ireland V Panama, 12:30pm, Wednesday 05/11/25
Ireland V Uzbekistan 15:45pm, Saturday 08/11/25
Ireland V Paraguay, 13:30pm, Tuesday 11/11/25
All of The Republic Of Ireland’s group stage games will be played in the Aspire Zone in Al Rayyan and each of their matches will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two.
The top two placed teams in the group stage qualify for the round of 32, and the top eight ranked third placed teams will join them.
This is The Republic Of Ireland’s first ever appearance at an under 17 World Cup and first major tournament since 2023 when the squad at the time reached the quarter finals. Ireland have a decent historical track record at major international underage tournaments, with the 1997 under 20 World Cup team finishing third and the under 16’s and under 18’s winning the under 16 and under 18 European Championships respectively. Will this under 17 side be able to emulate the heroes of the past? Time will tell.
