The Republic of Ireland will play two friendly internationals in April to start preparations for the World Cup qualifiers.
Vera Pauw’s side will host Denmark at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday, April 8th before travelling to Belgium for a game in the King Baudouin Stadium on Sunday, April 11th.
The draw for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers will take place on April 30th with the games scheduled to start in September.
WNT line up two friendly games
April 8 v 🇩🇰 (h)
April 11 v 🇧🇪 (a)
𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯#COYGIG | #WEAREONE
Provisional Squad selected 👇 pic.twitter.com/DmVOeIMftq— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) March 24, 2021
Pauw, who signed a new contract with the FAI in February, has welcomed the opportunity for her players to get some more game time under their belts ahead of the qualifiers.
"With the world still fighting back against the COVID-19 pandemic, we are very grateful to have the opportunity to play these games which will make a significant difference to our preparation for the 2023 FIFA World Cup qualifiers due to start in September," said Pauw.
"We would like to thank the Government, the Health Service Executive, Sport Ireland and everyone at the Football Association of Ireland who have worked hard to make these games happen.
"It is so important that we take advantage of every minute that we can work with the players and to play against strong teams.
"There were a lot of positives to take from our EURO qualifying campaign, but this is a new tournament and that means we have to focus on that.
"The goal is to qualify for the finals in Australia and New Zealand, but we know that it won’t be easy, and we must wait to discover our opponents in the Qualifying Draw.
"Hopefully by the time that we play our first qualifying game at home in Tallaght Stadium we will have our wonderful supporters there to cheer the team on.
"We are really looking forward to getting this campaign started and being on the pitch together again.
"This is a very special group of players and staff who work incredibly hard to represent their country with pride. It is a privilege to work with them in every camp that we have."
Ireland's last meeting with Belgium was in January 2019 in an international friendly game in Spain, while their previous game with Denmark goes back to a Algarve Cup game in March 2006.
Republic of Ireland provisional squad:
Goalkeepers: Grace Moloney (Reading), Courtney Brosnan (West Ham United), Marie Hourihan (SC Braga), Niamh Reid-Burke (Peamount United)
Defenders: Keeva Keenan (Celtic), Claire O’Riordan (MSV Duisburg), Louise Quinn (Fiorentina), Diane Caldwell (North Carolina Courage), Niamh Farrelly (Glasgow City), Claire Walsh (Peamount United), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Éabha O’Mahony (Cork City), Áine O’Gorman (Peamount United)
Midfielders: Emily Whelan (Shelbourne), Megan Connolly (Brighton & Hove Albion), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Jamie Finn (Shelbourne), Hayley Nolan (London City Lionesses), Ruesha Littlejohn (Birmingham City), Alli Murphy (London City Lionesses), Ellen Molloy (Wexford Youths), Jessica Ziu (Shelbourne), Katie McCabe (Arsenal)
Forwards: Heather Payne (Florida State University), Leanne Kiernan (West Ham United), Isibeal Atkinson (Celtic), Amber Barrett (FC Koln), Rianna Jarrett (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kyra Carusa (HB Hoge), Saoirse Noonan (Shelbourne), Clare Shine (Glasgow City), Stephanie Roche (Peamount United)
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