“I will be disappointed at the end of my carrier if….”- Ipswich Town defender Dara O’Shea reveals Ireland World Cup dream
Ipswich Town defender Dara O’Shea is setting his sights on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with the Republic of Ireland.
The 26-year-old, who joined Ipswich from Burnley last summer, has earned 32 international caps since making his debut in 2020.
Ireland’s last major tournament appearance was in 2016, when they reached the Round of 16 at the European Championships, only to be eliminated by France.
Since then, they’ve fallen short in four qualifying attempts but are determined to change that in the coming months.
Under Heimir Hallgrímsson, Ireland has been placed in Group F alongside Armenia, Hungary, and Portugal, with only the top team securing automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup.
“It’s definitely a real opportunity for us,” O’Shea said. “It’s important for me and my career. Reaching a major tournament with my country is something I really want to achieve.”
He added, “I’d be disappointed if I haven’t done that by the end of my career, so this is a big chance for me. And especially for our nation, as we haven’t qualified since 2016. It would mean a lot to the whole country, and I’m looking forward to it.”
O’Shea is hopeful that his Ipswich teammate Jack Taylor will also be part of the squad, adding, “With Jack in the squad, we’ll have a strong chance of qualifying.”
The Irish team made a memorable impression at Euro 2016, both on and off the pitch, exceeding expectations and delighting fans with their performances.
O’Shea, although not yet a player in a major tournament, was there as a fan in 2016, attending matches as a 17-year-old while in the early stages of his career at West Brom.
“It would be incredible for the whole country,” O’Shea reflected. “I was there in 2016, just a fan, and I know how much it means to us as Irish people to qualify for a tournament. That week ended up being one of the best of my life.”
He continued, “I was with my dad, a couple of my mates, and their dads. We were all young, but it was a fantastic experience.
I went to the Italy game, where Robbie Brady scored late, and the match against Belgium as well. It was an unforgettable time, and I hope we can do that again. The country would be immensely proud of us.”
After avoiding relegation from the Nations League with a play-off victory over Bulgaria, Ireland can now focus fully on their World Cup qualifying campaign, which starts with a home match against Hungary in September.
One key player missing for both club and country is Sammie Szmodics, who is expected to miss most of the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury. The attacker had been in excellent form, scoring four goals in 19 appearances.
“It’s a huge loss,” O’Shea admitted. “Sammie’s been brilliant for us this season, and it’s really disappointing for him to be sidelined. It’s a blow for Ireland too.”
He added, “I’m hoping Sammie can recover quickly and get back to the level he was at. He’ll be a huge asset for us whenever he returns.”
