Shanade Hopcroft added to Republic of Ireland squad for Kazakhstan play-off
September 29, 2026 16:21
Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has included Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft in her squad for next month’s Women’s World Cup play-off against Kazakhstan. Hopcroft, 28, is England-born and qualifies for Ireland through her County Sligo–born grandmother. She returned to Crystal Palace earlier this month following a spell at Birmingham City and has previously been part of the Chelsea academy and played for Birmingham City and London City Lionesses.
SQUAD CONTEXT
Heather Payne returns to the squad for the first time in a year. However, Ward will be without several players for the first leg in Astana on 9 October (12:00 BST): captain Katie McCabe and midfielder Marissa Sheva are suspended for that opening match, and Denise O'Sullivan will not travel with the squad for the first leg. Tara O'Hanlon (hamstring) and Saoirse Noonan (ankle) are ruled out of both games, and Ruesha Littlejohn—currently without a club—is not included.
FIXTURES
First leg: Kazakhstan v Republic of Ireland, Astana, 9 October (12:00 BST).
Second leg: Republic of Ireland v Kazakhstan, Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork, 13 October (19:30).
If Ireland progress, they will face either Poland or Belgium in the play-off final.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (Southampton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Aoife Mannion (Newcastle United), Heather Payne (Leicester City), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jessie Stapleton (Leicester City), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Hayley Nolan (Crystal Palace), Chloe Mustaki (Nottingham Forest), Katie McCabe (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (Gotham FC), Marissa Sheva (Sunderland), Aoibheann Clancy (Watford), Jamie Finn (Burnley), Lucy Quinn (Sheffield United), Tyler Toland (Burnley), Jess Ziu (Leicester City), Shanade Hopcroft (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (HB Koge), Amber Barrett (Strasbourg), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Emily Murphy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Leanne Kiernan (Newcastle United)
ADDITIONAL CONTEXT
The Republic of Ireland dropped into the play-offs after failing to secure automatic qualification, losing their winner-takes-all final qualifier against France in June. Ireland made their World Cup debut at the 2023 tournament in Australia.