The journey continues today.

Carla Ward’s Republic of Ireland are still hunting down that ticket for the Brazil World Cup in 2027, and a two-legged play-off semi-final against Kazakhstan is the next is the next step in their quest. The second leg is next Tuesday, 13 October at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

But Ireland’s focus is on today. They are without the suspended Katie McCabe and Marissa Sheva over an accumulation of yellow cards, while Denise O’Sullivan did not travel to manage her fitness. 

Courtney Brosnan will captain the side, and we’ll have team line-ups for you shortly as we edge towards the 12pm kick-off. Live coverage of the game is available on RTÉ and, as always, we want to hear your thoughts so let us know in the comments below.

Here’s how Republic of Ireland have been named to start:

Courtney Brosnan (captain); Aoife Mannion, Caitlin Hayes, Anna Patten, Jessie Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki; Megan Connolly, Jamie Finn, Abbie Larkin; Emily Murphy, Kyra Carusa

And here is the Kazakhstan team:

Nazym Ismailova; Alexandra Burova, Yulia Myasnikova, Bibigul Nurusheva, Anastassiya Vlassova; Yekaterina Babshuk, Anastassiya Nizamutdinova, Karina Zhumabaikyzy; Aida Gaistenova, Amina Bibossynova, Asselkhan Turlybekova

STARTING XI | Kazakhstan v Ireland Kick off at 12:00pm (Irish time) 🙌 #COYGIG https://t.co/KYvrXmrqFy

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) October 9, 2026

1 min: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Ireland are in possession after kick-off as Aoife Mannion and Anna Patten work some passes together.

The ball eventually goes out for a Kazakhstan kick-out.

3 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

Ireland showing those differences in the rankings here by dominating possession and keeping the ball in the opposition half.

5 mins: Ireland 0-0 Kazakhstan

MISS!

Abbie Larkin with the first chance at goal. It came from a good Anna Patten delivery which found Larkin’s head, and she just needed to keep her effort a bit lower there in front of the goal.

9 mins: Ireland 1-0 Kazakhstan 

Ireland take the lead through a Kyra Carusa header. It came from a Megan Connolly free which she looped in from the sideline. And while that effort was punched away by the Kazakhstan goalkeeper, Ireland kept pressing and Chloe Mustaki sent the ball back in for Carusa to get the decisive header.

14 mins: Ireland 1-0 Kazakhstan 

Caitlyn Hayes gets dispossessed in midfield, but Ireland get the ball back quickly through Aoife Mannion.

Another decent cross sent in by Mustaki and Kazakhstan put the ball out for a throw.

19 mins: Ireland 2-0 Kazakhstan

Ireland are really in control now as Chloe Mustaki gets her first senior goal for Ireland with a thumping effort from a rebound. 

Aoife Mannion was unfortunate to see her shot come back off the post, but Mustaki was alert to fire the rebound into the roof of the net, and double Ireland’s lead.

Here’s that first goal from Kyra Carusa

The perfect start for the Republic of Ireland as Kyra Carusa’s looping header has them ahead in their World Cup Euro play-off in Kazakhstan. 📺RTÉ2 💻 https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ 🖥️ https://t.co/0S1yQiYSEh https://t.co/VU310cG1WN

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2026

24 mins: Ireland 2-0 Kazakhstan

Mustaki’s screws her cross, and it’s out for a Kazakhstan goal-kick. But Carla Ward’s side still look very comfortable as Larkin tries to sneak in again for another shot. 

The ball comes back to Jessie Stapleton to launch another attack as Mannion links up well with Larkin.

She sends in a dangerous ball, and it’s eventually put out for an Ireland throw.

30 mins: Ireland 3-0 Kazakhstan

And it’s a second goal for Kyra Carusa. Goalkeeper Nazym Ismailova won’t want to see that one again. She completely misread the cross, and it was a simple header for Carusa into an empty net.

Ireland are in a perfect position now at 3-0 with only half an hour gone.

32 mins: Ireland 3-0 Kazakhstan 

There’s a VAR check happening here.

36 mins: Ireland 3-0 Kazakhstan

The day goes from bad to worse for the hosts as their captain is dismissed for bringing down Larkin and denying a goal-scoring chance.

Mustaki then takes a shot that is sent out for a corner, and the Kazakhstan goalkeeper Ismailova is now receiving treatment. It looks like something happened to her arm or shoulder while trying to clear that corner.

41 mins: Ireland 3-0 Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan bring on replacement goalkeeper Angelina Portnova, as Mustaki sends in a free which she easily collects.

41 mins: Ireland 3-0 Kazakhstan

Chloe Mustaki has her first senior Republic of Ireland goal and Carla Ward's side are in cruise control in Astana. 📺 RTÉ2 💻 https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ 🖥️ https://t.co/0S1yQiYSEh https://t.co/USANjiuoyS

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2026

Kyra Carusa doubles up and the Republic of Ireland's dominance against Kazakhstan starting to be reflected on the scoreboard. 📺 RTÉ2 💻 https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ 🖥️ https://t.co/0S1yQiYSEh https://t.co/ugy4YavXoL

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2026

45 mins: Ireland 4-0 Kazakhstan 

Emily Murphy provides the fourth goal. She was the first to pounce on a loose ball after a save from Portnova and comfortably tapped the ball in.

The hosts threatened briefly at the other end before that when Hayes was penalised for a foul. The resultant free was headed out for a corner by Stapleton and Ireland were able to clear the corner with ease.

Six minutes of added time have been announced.

51 mins: Ireland 5-0 Kazakhstan 

Abbie Larkin connects with Mustaki’s cross to head the ball in for Ireland’s fifth with half-time just seconds away.

Here’s that Abbie Larkin goal

Half-time: Kazakhstan 0-5 Republic of Ireland Abbie Larkin heads home just before the break and Carla Ward's side are completely outclassing their hosts. 📺RTÉ2 💻https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ 🖥️ https://t.co/0S1yQiYSEh https://t.co/PwnQty6CjS

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2026

And here’s that red card decision. What are your thoughts?

Kazakhstan down to 10 players as captain Yulia Myasnikova is sent off after what appears to be a harsh VAR intervention. https://t.co/V8lUziSn5T

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2026

Second-half: Ireland 5-0 Kazakhstan 

Ireland are making some changes at half-time as Amber Barrett, Leanne Kiernan and Tyler Toland all come in.

46 mins: Ireland 5-0 Kazakhstan 

Emily Murphy, Megan Connolly and Kyra Carusa all make way. This is definitely a game they just have to see out now.

48 mins: Ireland 5-0 Kazakhstan 

Barrett almost in for a goal in the early stages. But the goalkeeper gets out in time to clear the danger.

51 mins: Ireland 5-0 Kazakhstan 

Barrett goes for it again from the edge of the box after Larkin won the ball back from a turnover.

But the shot was always rising and sails over the crossbar.

54 mins: Ireland 5-0 Kazakhstan 

Ireland have a corner which they go short with. Mustaki whips it in, and Hayes tries to get a head on it, but the ball just fizzes past her.

62 mins: Ireland 6-0 Kazakhstan 

Jamie Finn is the latest to score for Ireland as she gets a header on a beautiful cross from Mannion. After her injury woes, it’s fitting to see Finn get a goal and extend Ireland’s lead once more.

65 mins: Ireland 6-0 Kazakhstan 

Larkin comes close to another goal as she gathers possession after the ball is parried away from an Ireland cross. But her powerful shot goes wide.

71 mins: Ireland 6-0 Kazakhstan 

Ireland changes: Hayley Nolan and Shanade Hopcroft come in to replace Hayes and Patten.

74 mins: Ireland 7-0 Kazakhstan

What a debut for Shanade Hopcroft. Just a few minutes after coming on, she gets her first goal for Ireland after recently being added to the squad.

Here’s Jamie Finn’s goal

Jamie Finn marks her belated return to the Ireland starting line-up with the away side's sixth goal - and it's yet another header. 📺RTÉ2 💻https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ 🖥️https://t.co/0S1yQiYSEh https://t.co/wdHAii74lp

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2026

77 mins: Ireland 7-0 Kazakhstan 

Larkin flashes the ball across the goal. Mustaki tries to cut it back again but can’t keep the ball in play.

Barrett gets in again shortly after, but credit to the goalkeeper who gets out and smothers the shot to send the ball out for another Ireland corner.

82 mins: Ireland 7-0 Kazakhstan 

Kazakhstan 0-7 Republic of Ireland A debut to remember for Shanade Hopcroft as she diverts home Ireland’s seventh in Astana. 📺 RTÉ2 💻https://t.co/b2OI4OoWVJ 🖥️https://t.co/0S1yQiYSEh https://t.co/X3NhPvfJLX

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) October 9, 2026

89 mins: Ireland 7-0 Kazakhstan 

Chloe Mustaki deservedly named the Player of the Match.

Republic of Ireland 8-0 Kazakhstan

And that is that. For the first leg, anyway.

Goals galore as Ireland completely dominate the first leg. A brace from Kyra Carusa along with goals from Emily Murphy, Abbie Larkin and Chloe Mustaki put Ireland into a commanding 5-0 lead at half-time.

Jamie Finn, Shanade Hopcroft and Jessie Stapleton added the extras in the second half to give Ireland a huge advantage heading into the second leg at Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Tuesday.

Well, that’s all from us, folks. We hope you enjoyed the coverage today. Stay tuned for our match report from Emma Duffy along with the rest of the post-match coverage throughout the day.

Until next time, good luck!