I'd say pigs will fly before this could happen, but good historical perspective as always by Cormac Moore.
Cormac Moore: Is it time for Ireland's football teams to join together?
irishnews.com Feb 27, 2026
NEXT month both Irish soccer teams will bid to make the FIFA World Cup later this year in North America.
If the talks that took place between the Irish Football Association (IFA) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) during the height of the Troubles in the 1970s had succeeded, there would be one united international team from the island bidding to do so.
Those talks took place in earnest from 1973 to 1980.
The attempts to bring about an all-Ireland team in many ways were a player-led initiative, with prominent names such as George Best, Derek Dougan and John Giles all calling for one team on the island.
An all-Ireland team, organised by Dougan and Giles, took to the field in the guise of a Shamrock Rovers XI who played against the world champions Brazil in a thrilling encounter at Lansdowne Road in July 1973, with the Brazilians winning by four goals to three.
Although not supported by the IFA or FAI, the match did prompt the FAI to contact its northern counterpart to discuss the possibility of re-unifying.
Soccer in Ireland had been governed by the IFA in Belfast on an all-Ireland basis from 1880 to 1921.
In 1921 the Leinster Football Association seceded from the IFA, with the FAI established later that year.
The IFA unanimously agreed to meet the FAI and talks that had not taken place since 1932 between both associations begun again.
The intervening period had seen the relationship wane considerably, with both associations claiming the right to call on players from the whole island to play for their different "Ireland" teams.
It led to bizarre scenarios. In one instance, Johnny Carey played for an IFA-selected "Ireland" team against England at Windsor Park in Belfast on February 28 1946.
Two days later he played for an FAI-selected "Ireland" team, also against England, in Dalymount Park in Dublin.
FIFA put a stop to this practice in 1950 by prohibiting associations from selecting players not born in their jurisdiction.
By the early 1970s, and despite the escalation of violence in Northern Ireland that led to Derry City abandoning the (northern) Irish Football League in 1972, there was a desire within the FAI and IFA to co-operate more closely.
As well as discussing the prospect of reunion, both associations embraced all-Ireland competitions such as the Blaxnit and Texaco tournaments and supported joint efforts in education and coaching for schools and referees.
Although the talks ultimately failed, there was a genuine desire for an all-Ireland solution by both associations, particularly the FAI.
There would not have been as many conferences between the IFA and the FAI if there was no desire. At least nine were held between 1973 and 1980, seven from 1978 to 1980.
George Best
George Best was among players who favoured an all-island football team
Factors that brought an end to the talks included money – the financial dilemma the halving of revenue from international fixtures would cause – and the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland.
A vicious riot at a European Cup tie between Linfield and Dundalk at the latter's ground, Oriel Park, in 1979, highlighted the closeness of football to the northern conflict.
It was conceded that a football solution could not be found until such time as a political solution to Northern Ireland was achieved.
Others believed the administrators from both associations were fearful that union would see a halving of administration roles.
Success also proved an obstacle to an all-Ireland team.
The Northern Ireland soccer team won the British Home Championship in 1980 and 1984, the last year the oldest international football competition was held. The IFA still retains the trophy.
Under Billy Bingham, the international side also qualified for the World Cups of 1982 and 1986, causing one of the biggest upsets in the 1982 competition by defeating the host nation, Spain.
The results Northern Ireland was experiencing led Harry Cavan, IFA president and FIFA vice-president, to comment that "with results like we have had over the last two years, who needs a united Irish soccer side?"
Many saw Cavan as an obstacle to football unity, although he claimed in 1979 that "two teams in a small country like this is nonsensical".
In 1988, the Republic of Ireland made its introduction at international tournaments at the European Championship in West Germany.
In qualifying for the World Cups in 1990 and 1994, the southern team had overtaken its northern rival on the field. It also lessened the appetite from the FAI for unity.
The Irish fans have developed a reputation for enjoying themselves at major tournaments since Jack Charlton's men reached those first Euro finals in 1988.
Irish fans at the European Championships in 1988
Louis Kilcoyne, the FAI president, commenting in 1995 on the prospect of re-union, stated: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."
Fortunes for both teams have dwindled since. Despite both Irish teams qualifying for the European Championships in 2016 – Northern Ireland's first appearance at an international tournament in 30 years – the current sides are a pale reflection on teams past.
Both will have to win two difficult ties by the end of March to qualify for the World Cup this year.
Even if one or both Irish teams do qualify, realistically it will become more challenging to do so in in the future.
The lack of success might see a renewal of talks to consider an all-Ireland team.
A 2015 University of Ulster study, Social Exclusion and Sport in Northern Ireland, contended that a majority of people in Northern Ireland (54%) supported an all-Ireland football team, including 39% from the Protestant community.
This may prompt the IFA and FAI to re-engage and bring about one football team on this small island yet again.
Cormac Moore: Is it time for Ireland's football teams to join together?
irishnews.com Feb 27, 2026
NEXT month both Irish soccer teams will bid to make the FIFA World Cup later this year in North America.
If the talks that took place between the Irish Football Association (IFA) and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) during the height of the Troubles in the 1970s had succeeded, there would be one united international team from the island bidding to do so.
Those talks took place in earnest from 1973 to 1980.
The attempts to bring about an all-Ireland team in many ways were a player-led initiative, with prominent names such as George Best, Derek Dougan and John Giles all calling for one team on the island.
An all-Ireland team, organised by Dougan and Giles, took to the field in the guise of a Shamrock Rovers XI who played against the world champions Brazil in a thrilling encounter at Lansdowne Road in July 1973, with the Brazilians winning by four goals to three.
Although not supported by the IFA or FAI, the match did prompt the FAI to contact its northern counterpart to discuss the possibility of re-unifying.
Soccer in Ireland had been governed by the IFA in Belfast on an all-Ireland basis from 1880 to 1921.
In 1921 the Leinster Football Association seceded from the IFA, with the FAI established later that year.
The IFA unanimously agreed to meet the FAI and talks that had not taken place since 1932 between both associations begun again.
The intervening period had seen the relationship wane considerably, with both associations claiming the right to call on players from the whole island to play for their different "Ireland" teams.
It led to bizarre scenarios. In one instance, Johnny Carey played for an IFA-selected "Ireland" team against England at Windsor Park in Belfast on February 28 1946.
Two days later he played for an FAI-selected "Ireland" team, also against England, in Dalymount Park in Dublin.
FIFA put a stop to this practice in 1950 by prohibiting associations from selecting players not born in their jurisdiction.
By the early 1970s, and despite the escalation of violence in Northern Ireland that led to Derry City abandoning the (northern) Irish Football League in 1972, there was a desire within the FAI and IFA to co-operate more closely.
As well as discussing the prospect of reunion, both associations embraced all-Ireland competitions such as the Blaxnit and Texaco tournaments and supported joint efforts in education and coaching for schools and referees.
Although the talks ultimately failed, there was a genuine desire for an all-Ireland solution by both associations, particularly the FAI.
There would not have been as many conferences between the IFA and the FAI if there was no desire. At least nine were held between 1973 and 1980, seven from 1978 to 1980.
George Best
George Best was among players who favoured an all-island football team
Factors that brought an end to the talks included money – the financial dilemma the halving of revenue from international fixtures would cause – and the ongoing violence in Northern Ireland.
A vicious riot at a European Cup tie between Linfield and Dundalk at the latter's ground, Oriel Park, in 1979, highlighted the closeness of football to the northern conflict.
It was conceded that a football solution could not be found until such time as a political solution to Northern Ireland was achieved.
Others believed the administrators from both associations were fearful that union would see a halving of administration roles.
Success also proved an obstacle to an all-Ireland team.
The Northern Ireland soccer team won the British Home Championship in 1980 and 1984, the last year the oldest international football competition was held. The IFA still retains the trophy.
Under Billy Bingham, the international side also qualified for the World Cups of 1982 and 1986, causing one of the biggest upsets in the 1982 competition by defeating the host nation, Spain.
The results Northern Ireland was experiencing led Harry Cavan, IFA president and FIFA vice-president, to comment that "with results like we have had over the last two years, who needs a united Irish soccer side?"
Many saw Cavan as an obstacle to football unity, although he claimed in 1979 that "two teams in a small country like this is nonsensical".
In 1988, the Republic of Ireland made its introduction at international tournaments at the European Championship in West Germany.
In qualifying for the World Cups in 1990 and 1994, the southern team had overtaken its northern rival on the field. It also lessened the appetite from the FAI for unity.
The Irish fans have developed a reputation for enjoying themselves at major tournaments since Jack Charlton's men reached those first Euro finals in 1988.
Irish fans at the European Championships in 1988
Louis Kilcoyne, the FAI president, commenting in 1995 on the prospect of re-union, stated: "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."
Fortunes for both teams have dwindled since. Despite both Irish teams qualifying for the European Championships in 2016 – Northern Ireland's first appearance at an international tournament in 30 years – the current sides are a pale reflection on teams past.
Both will have to win two difficult ties by the end of March to qualify for the World Cup this year.
Even if one or both Irish teams do qualify, realistically it will become more challenging to do so in in the future.
The lack of success might see a renewal of talks to consider an all-Ireland team.
A 2015 University of Ulster study, Social Exclusion and Sport in Northern Ireland, contended that a majority of people in Northern Ireland (54%) supported an all-Ireland football team, including 39% from the Protestant community.
This may prompt the IFA and FAI to re-engage and bring about one football team on this small island yet again.