Carla Ward Targets France Win for 2027 World Cup Spot

Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward says a victory over France to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup would become one of the biggest stories in world football. Ireland enter the final Group A2 fixture one point behind leaders France. The winner of the group will qualify directly for the tournament in Brazil. Only the group winner gains direct entry to the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil, while the remaining teams will contest a seeded play‑off in the autumn. Ireland have already booked that play‑off slot. A group win would also make Ireland the first fourth‑seeded side in League A to top a group. Ireland opened the campaign with 2‑1 defeats to France and the Netherlands in March. They rebounded in April by beating Poland in both of their matches. Those wins gave the side a surge of momentum heading into June. In June, Ireland overturned the Netherlands 3‑2 at a rain‑soaked Cork venue, setting up a winner‑takes‑all clash with France in Grenoble. The French side, known as Les Bleues, will host the decisive game. Ward describes the encounter as a chance to rewrite the group’s narrative. Ward acknowledges her squad are huge underdogs against a stacked French lineup, but stresses they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. She expects the French to press hard but notes they showed respect in their previous meeting. Ireland will aim to manage every moment and leave no stone unturned. Ward emphasizes that the pressure is off for Ireland and that a calm, focused approach will guide the team. She believes the group deserves credit for the quality displayed. A win would cement Ireland’s place in the top tier and secure a historic record.