Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup suffered a significant setback following a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Portugal in Lisbon. A late goal from Rúben Neves in the first minute of added time shattered the Boys in Green's resilient defensive display, leaving them with just one point from their opening three matches in Group F.

The match, played at the Estádio José Alvalade, saw Ireland putting up a strong fight against the reigning Nations League champions. Despite Portugal's dominance in possession and attempts on goal, with 30 shots compared to Ireland's two, the Irish defense, led by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, managed to keep the scoreline level for much of the game. Kelleher even saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, further fueling Ireland's hopes of securing a valuable point on the road.

However, as the clock ticked past the 90-minute mark, Portugal's persistence paid off. A cross from Trincao found Rúben Neves, who headed home the decisive goal, leaving Kelleher stranded and the Irish team crestfallen.

The defeat leaves Ireland in a precarious position in Group F, with Portugal leading the group with nine points. Hungary sits in second place with four points, followed by Armenia with three, and Ireland at the bottom with one.

Ireland's World Cup qualification campaign began with a 2-2 draw at home against Hungary, followed by a disappointing 2-1 loss to Armenia. The loss against Portugal marks their second defeat in the qualification.

To qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Ireland must now fight an uphill battle. The top team in each of the 12 UEFA qualifying groups automatically qualifies for the tournament. The 12 runners-up will enter a play-off round in March 2026, where four additional spots will be up for grabs. These teams will be joined by the four best group winners from the UEFA Nations League who did not finish in the top two of their qualifying group. The play-offs will consist of four mini-tournaments, each featuring two semi-finals and a final, with the winner of each tournament qualifying for the World Cup.

Given their current standing, Ireland's most realistic path to the World Cup is likely through the play-offs. However, to reach the play-offs, they would likely need to finish second in their group.

The team's next match is at home against Armenia on October 14, followed by another home game against Portugal on November 13 and an away game against Hungary on November 16. These upcoming matches are crucial for Ireland's chances of progressing in the World Cup qualifiers.

Heimir Hallgrímsson, the new coach of the Republic of Ireland national football team, acknowledged the difficult task ahead, especially after the loss to Portugal. He had previously stated that his team would need to play a "nearly perfect game" to get a result against Portugal.

Despite the disappointing result in Lisbon, there were positives to take away for Ireland. The team's defensive resilience and Kelleher's goalkeeping heroics demonstrated their ability to compete against top-quality opposition. However, they will need to improve their attacking threat and find ways to score goals if they are to have any hope of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.