Ireland vs Portugal Prediction 14 November 2025

🔈 Can the "boys in green" keep their hopes alive for a spot in the main stage of the World Cup? One of the highlights of the European qualifiers this Thursday will be the clash between the national teams of Ireland and Portugal. Roberto Martinez's side have been performing confidently in the qualifying cycle and have virtually secured their ticket to the World Cup. Meanwhile, Heimir Hallgrímsson's squad must achieve success in their remaining two matches. Despite the home advantage, bookmakers aren't expecting a positive outcome for the Irish, giving the "Seleção" odds of seven to one.

Head-to-Head

📊 In the first round of the current qualifying cycle, Portugal secured a hard-fought victory against Ireland at the "José Alvalade." It was Ruben Neves' decisive strike in the 91st minute that sealed the final score at 1-0. In official matches, the "Boys in Green" have been unable to defeat the Portuguese national team since 1995—back then, during the EURO 1996 qualifiers, Ireland emerged victorious in Dublin with a 1-0 win. Whether Heimir Hallgrímsson's squad can pull off a sensational upset will be revealed soon.

Ireland Team Overview

🟢 Not too long ago, it seemed that the Republic of Ireland national team had significant potential and could consistently qualify for major international tournaments. However, the lackluster form of one of the country's main talents, Evan Ferguson, along with the underwhelming performances of several experienced players, makes such aspirations unlikely in the near future. During the current qualification stage, the "Boys in Green" have secured just one victory—against the group's absolute underdogs, Armenia (1-0). This win was largely due to Tigran Barseghyan's red card in the 52nd minute of the match.

⚪ Currently, Heimir Hallgrímsson and his team sit in third place in the standings, with only 4 points from 4 matches. The tournament situation is such that Ireland desperately needs to pick up points in their remaining two games to keep their World Cup hopes alive. As of now, Ireland ranks 62nd in the FIFA World Rankings, with their squad valued at €187.25 million. Among the most valuable players are Nathan Collins (€35 million, Brentford), Evan Ferguson (€25 million, Roma), and Caoimhín Kelleher (€20 million, Brentford).

Portugal Team Overview

🔴 The Portugal national team traditionally navigates the qualifying rounds with confidence, rarely encountering significant obstacles in securing results. In their four matches so far, they've amassed 10 points, virtually ensuring their qualification for the main stage of the tournament. Moreover, within their group, the "Seleção" boasts the most effective attacking line (averaging 2.75 goals per match) and the most reliable defense (conceding about 1 goal per game). Portugal's top scorer in the current qualifiers is the irreplaceable and ageless Cristiano Ronaldo, who has netted 5 goals in 4 matches.

🟢 In their last World Cup qualifying match, Portugal dropped points for the first time, drawing 2-2 against Hungary. Despite dominating possession for much of the game, the "Seleção" allowed Dominik Szoboszlai to equalize in the 91st minute. Roberto Martínez, who has been at the helm since 2023, aims to build a dominant side that excels through positional play and intense pressing. Currently ranked 5th in the FIFA world rankings, the team aspires to reach the top after achieving their ultimate goal—winning their first-ever World Cup. The "Seleção's" roster is valued at a staggering €901 million, with their most expensive players being Vitinha (€90 million, PSG), João Neves (€90 million, PSG), and Rafael Leão (€70 million, Milan).

Latest news

Ireland

🎤 Republic of Ireland's head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson remains optimistic, genuinely believing that all is not lost: “I've always been honest with you, I believe in this team. I think this squad has everything needed to qualify for the World Cup. We might not be the favorites in the group right now, but a win tomorrow can change that. And I believe we can do it. Yes, we are not the favorites, but through cohesive teamwork and strict adherence to pre-match instructions, we can challenge even a side like Portugal.” Nathan Collins, the national team's captain, also shared his thoughts: “There will be times when they have a lot of possession, and we need to stay in shape, make it difficult for them, and put them in positions where they have nothing to do. We have so much pace to counter-attack. Being solid and starting from the back is how we win games; if we don’t concede, we give ourselves a great chance. We must still have the inner belief that we can go and score goals.”

❌ The main challenge facing the “Boys in Green” is the significant number of injured players. The likes of Bosun Lawal, Matt Doherty, Jason Knight, William Smallbone, Robbie Brady, Sammie Szmodics, and Evan Ferguson are all sidelined. With such squad difficulties, achieving success against a global football powerhouse will be incredibly tough.

Portugal

🎤 Reflecting on the missed victory against Hungary (2-2) in the last round of qualifiers, head coach Roberto Martinez said: "I think Hungary executed set pieces very well, but we controlled the game in the first half. We started the second half strongly but failed to seal the win. This match held special significance. In the last 10 minutes, we had the chance to qualify for the World Cup, and that affected us a bit. Remember, there are no easy games. We have four points from this campaign. We gathered a lot of information. We wanted to achieve our goal, but... When preparing for the World Cup, it's important to know how to manage such games, especially in the final 10 minutes. It's a valuable lesson. We always need to control the ball and show character. We had chances in the second half to secure the result."

📰 A significant highlight was Cristiano Ronaldo's brace in the recent clash with Hungary (2-2). This took his tally of goals in World Cup qualifiers to 41, setting a new world record. The 40-year-old star commented: "It's no secret that representing the national team means a lot to me, and I am very proud to have reached this unique milestone playing for Portugal. Thank you to everyone who helped me achieve this. See you in November to seal our World Cup qualification."

❌ Among the unavailable players for Portugal due to various injuries are Nuno Mendes, Nuno Tavares, Joao Cancelo, and Pedro Goncalves.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

The upcoming match will see a team of referees led by Swedish official Glenn Nyberg. Known for his leniency, Nyberg averages around 3.77 yellow cards per game. In his last two matches, he has issued no more than two cautions. Notably, matches involving the Portuguese national team in the current qualifying cycle have averaged about 3.8 yellow cards per game. Our editorial choice is under 4.5 total yellow cards.

⚽ Goal Prediction

In 6 of Portugal's last 7 matches, we've seen high-scoring affairs with at least 3 goals. Roberto Martinez's side has averaged around 3.8 goals per game in this qualifying cycle. Considering Ireland's significant personnel issues and Portugal's impressive attacking prowess, we recommend the following bet – over 2.5 total goals.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Let's focus on each team's corner stats in this qualification stage. Portugal boasts impressive figures in this area: 6 earned versus 1.8 conceded. Ireland, however, falls short with 3 earned against 2.8 conceded. Given the vulnerability of the "Boys in Green" against pressing teams, we suggest this bet – Portugal's individual total corners over 5.5.

Our editorial team wouldn't bet on a miracle from the home side. The "men in green" are not only facing organizational issues but are also plagued by squad difficulties. Their limited roster depth against one of the world's strongest national teams could spell disaster for Heimir Hallgrímsson's crew. Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez and his squad are eager to wrap up the qualifying campaign on a high note, confidently securing the top spot in their group. We predict a final score of 0-3, with the key bet being Portugal to win with a -1 handicap.