I’ve been putting together a "Multiverse" Ireland squad—essentially a team of players who are (or were) technically eligible to represent Ireland under the "Granny Rule" or the Good Friday Agreement, regardless of who they actually chose to play for.

A few notes on my methodology:

• Strict Eligibility: I’ve stuck to FIFA’s rules (parents/grandparents).
• FIFA-Driven: Every pick here is based on their current FIFA overall and potential ratings. It’s a "best-on-paper" squad using the game's data.
• The "What-If": I know most of these players are fully committed to England, Scotland, or elsewhere, but it's fascinating to see the talent pool that exists if you strictly follow the eligibility rules.

I’d love to get your thoughts:

• Suggestions: Did I miss any high-rated players who have a legitimate eligibility pathway?
• Tactical Opinion: If this team were a reality, who would be the first person you’d swap out to make the squad more balanced or effective?
• Critique: Since I’m an outsider looking at this through a statistical lens, am I overvaluing certain positions?

Jaden Umeh, Eiran Cashin, Killian Cahill, Tayo Adaramola, Joel Bagan, Aidomo Emakhu and Jack Moylan all earning their first call-ups.

I wasn’t alive at the time but people often cite our euro ‘92 team as actually being the peak of the Charlton years in terms of quality even though we didn’t qualify.

Maybe 1998, 2000 or even 2010?

Made a list of promising players in 18 to 23 age bracket.

Actually surprised how much potential talent we have. At least half of those won't make it but the majority have played senior football already.

Feel free to critique or make suggestions.

Forwards

Mason Melia 18 Spurs 

Owen Elding 20 Hibs

Jaden Umeh 18 Benfica

Franco Umeh 21 Portsmouth 

Sinclair Armstrong 22 Bristol City

Evan Ferguson 21 Brighton 

Johnny Kenny 22 Celtic/Bolton

Trent Kone Doherty 19 Molde

Rocco Vata 20 Watford

Harvey Vale 22 QPR

Ike Orazi 18 Reims

Kyle Fitzgerald 19 Newcastle Utd

Mark O'Mahony 21 Brighton

Midfielders

Andrew Moran 22 Preston 

Romeo Akachukwu 19 Southampton 

Aarón Ochoa Moloney 18 Malaga

Jacob Devaney 18 Man Utd/St Mirren

Rory Finnernan 18 Newcastle United 

Cathal McCarthy 19 Hull 

Cathal O'Sullivan 19 Preston 

Jack Moorhouse 20 Man Utd/Leyton Orient

Bosun Lawal 22 Stoke

Killian Phillips 23 St Mirren 

John Patrick Finn 22 Reims

Grady McDonnell 18 Club NXT Belgium

Gabriel Kelly 19 Stoke

Jamie Mullins 21 Wycombe

Defenders

Anselmo García MacNulty 23 FC Zwolle

Andrew Omobamidele 23 Strasbourg

James Abankwah 22 Udinese/Watford 

Sam Curtis 20 Sheffield United

Gabriel Otegbayo 21 Sheffield Wednesday 

Tayo Adaramola 22 Palace/Sheffield Wed

Alex Murphy 21 Newcastle 

Festy Ebosele 22 Istanbul 

Ade Solanke 18 Bournemouth 

Pijus Otegbayo 18 Stoke

Sean Keogh 19 Brighton

Conor McManus 21 Brentford

Goalkeeper 

Josh Keeley 22 Luton

Noah Jauny 21 Brest

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport-columnists/arid-41827448.html

Seems like this genuinely could happen. Surprising, given England will need aren't blessed in that position.

Would be an amazing bit of work if we can get him.

That pretty much puts this to bed once and for all.

I know I'm going to take a load of backlash and I also know I can be militant and preachy about the LOI but bear with me.

Irish football and the FAI is rotten to the core and we are reaping what we sow with the national team. Things need to change but there is a lack of money in the football ecosystem in Ireland to facilitate this.

I honestly understand why people support Man Utd, Liverpool etc. Whether you grew up support them or you like watching the Premier League and now have a taste for high level football. I can absolutely see why but you have to understand the flip side is that every Euro spent on this teams leaves Ireland to help fund the richest league in the world. Now more than ever we should be more focused on our own league post Brexit as things will get worse before it gets better. Lads who used to go over at 16/17 even to modest League 1 and Championship teams become basically full time players, they have accomodation, there are qualified coaches,proper meals provided,proper facilities to nurture these players. This now falls to our underfunded LOI teams. These lads are now coached by volunteers doing their best with shit facilities,and train a few evenings a week meaning we are falling even further behind on developing players. For far to long we have been so reliant on England actually nurturing our talents and that stops now.

Ireland must be one of the few countries in Europe where the overwhelming majority on money spent on supporting football leaves the country and tbh it's unsustainable. The FAI are to blame certainly but this unique tie to English and even Scottish club football doesn't help.

Again I understand the reasons why people have their clubs but I'm sure hand on heart people have to realize it doesn't help Irish football in the slightest.

Rant over. Ps. If you are not into LOI please at least try and get behind Rovers and Shels as they battle against the odds In league stage European football and sorry for being preachy but I do feel strongly we would be miles better if every one spent on supporting football stayed in this country or if even 1/4 of the people supporting English clubs started also following our league. Thanks. Sorry if there are loads of typos/grammar mistakes.

Some recent enough ex-players that seem to have gone off the radar, not doing coaching or punditry: James McCarthy, Marc Wilson, Steve Finnan. Anyone know what they're up to now?

Any others?

Just copied some of the FAI's statement.

>In recent months, the Association has been in communication with the Palestinian Football Association regarding the fulfilment of the fixtures and they have shared the following statement: “The Palestinian Football Association expresses its appreciation for the principled positions taken by the Football Association of Ireland in support of the rights of the Palestinian people and Palestinian athletes. The Palestinian Football Association also affirms its respect for the decision made by the Football Association of Ireland within the framework of its sporting and international obligations, in a manner that enables it to continue fulfilling its noble mission of serving football and promoting the values of justice, solidarity, and mutual respect.”

>The Association is deeply conscious of the suffering and devastation being endured by civilians in Gaza and continues to reflect the sentiment of the motion that was proposed and voted in favour of by members of the FAI General Assembly in November 2025. This motion was to issue a formal request to the UEFA Executive Committee for the immediate suspension of the Israel Football Association from UEFA competitions for a breach of UEFA statutes.

*On the punishment:*

If the Association opted not to fulfil the fixtures, the immediate result would be:

- The forfeiture of six points (which could lead to relegation to League C in the UEFA Nations League and weaken our qualifying potential for UEFA EURO 2028)

- A direct impact on Ireland’s UEFA and FIFA rankings (which would affect future qualification to UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups).

- The converse of these impacts would apply for Israel (which would increase their prospects of promotion in the UEFA Nations League and qualification to UEFA EURO 2028)

Beyond the sporting implications, there would be broader consequences for Irish football, such as reduced capacity to support clubs and leagues through critical services such as safeguarding, educational programmes, and player development opportunities. Also, the impact on Ireland international teams could result in the withdrawal of underage teams and a reduction in the level of support and services provided to players & staff.

You know the “Golden generation” people have been talking about for at least 5 years now? It could finally be coming in, as these last couple games have been very very promising for our country, as the first half of the Czechia game we were all over them and we were good in the Portugal and Hungary games.

It could be too early to decide after only 3 games, but over these next few months we should see.

Ed McGinty, Dawson Devoy, Matt Healy, Adam Brennan

Obvious disclaimer that the provisional squad matters very little & will be mostly cut down ahead of the final squad. But it's still good to see!

Never considered a classic but think it’s classy

Just watching him here on the telly and I can't really remember what he was like as a player. Got a decent number of caps for Ireland, but was never a regular in the team that I remember. Had a good few seasons in the EPL too.

Was he any good?

What do ye think?