Heimir Hallgrímsson acknowledges the significant challenge ahead for the Republic of Ireland in their World Cup qualification campaign, despite a recent 1-0 victory over Armenia. The win, secured at the Aviva Stadium, was hard-fought against a 10-man Armenian side.

Ireland's victory was sealed by Evan Ferguson's 70th-minute header, marking his fourth goal in five competitive games for his country. The match's turning point came in the 52nd minute when Armenia's captain, Tigran Barseghyan, was dismissed for a headbutt on Finn Azaz. Despite the numerical advantage, Ireland's performance was described as largely passive and uninspired in the first half. They managed to capitalize on their advantage to secure the win.

Hallgrímsson admitted that his team might need "to do something special" against Portugal in their upcoming match. This statement underscores the importance of the remaining fixtures and the level of performance required to secure a place in the World Cup finals. The victory over Armenia brought relief but was tempered by Hungary's late equalizer against Portugal, adding pressure on Ireland to perform against Cristiano Ronaldo and his team.

The coach emphasized the necessity of securing a win in Hungary, acknowledging the formidable task ahead. He also pointed out that a draw against Portugal might be enough, depending on Armenia's performance in Yerevan. Hallgrímsson recognized the spirit and aggression of the Armenian team, cautioning against underestimating them.

Prior to the match, Hallgrímsson stated that he would take any kind of win, even a "scrappy 1-0," highlighting the importance of the result above all else. He expressed his belief in the team's potential to qualify for the World Cup, despite not being the favorites in the group.

Hallgrímsson's appointment as the Republic of Ireland's national team coach was announced on July 10, 2024. Before taking the helm for Ireland, Hallgrímsson coached the Iceland national team, leading them to their first FIFA World Cup. He also coached the Qatari club Al-Arabi. Heimir has also managed Jamaica.

Hallgrímsson has previously stated his belief in the squad's quality and potential to qualify for the World Cup. He cited his past experiences with teams of lesser individual quality that successfully qualified for major tournaments. Despite a previous defeat to Armenia, Hallgrímsson remains confident in his team's ability to bounce back and compete for a World Cup spot.