Here’s all you need to know about this crucial tie.
When is it on?
The first leg is on Friday at the Cardiff City Stadium, with kick-off at 7.15pm. The second leg will take place at the Aviva Stadium, with kick-off at 7.30pm. Over 20,000 tickets have been sold for the home leg.
Where can I watch it?
Both games will be live on RTÉ 2, with coverage beginning at 6.30pm on Friday and 7pm on Tuesday evening. You can follow all the action on our live blog on independent.ie.
How we got here?
Eileen Gleeson’s earned a spot in the play-off round through the Nations League. They finished bottom of a really tough group featuring France, Sweden and England, but their group A status meant they earned a play-off place. They comfortably beat Georgia in the play-off semi-final, winning 6-0 away from home, before a 3-0 victory in the home leg at Tallaght Stadium, secured their passage to the final round.
Wales will be a much tougher task after they topped Group B to reach the play-offs. They overcame Slovakia in extra-time, with Liverpool’s Ceri Holland scoring a winner eight minutes from time to complete a 3-2 aggregate victory, keeping their hopes of qualifying for a major tournament for the first time in their history.
Head-to-head history
The teams have faced off on 11 occasions, with Ireland winning five, Wales winning three and three games drawn.
Team News
Gleeson will be without Louise Quinn, Ellen Molloy, Lucy Quinn and Jess Ziu due to injury but the squad is boosted by the return of Megan Campbell and Ruesha Littlejohn.
Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland, on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Carolina), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Everton), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United)
Wales squad
Olivia Clark (FC Twente), Laura O’Sullivan-Jones (Gwalia United), Safia Middleton-Patel (Manchester United), Rhiannon Roberts (Real Betis), Josie Green (Crystal Palace), Charlie Estcourt (DC Power), Hayley Ladd (Manchester United), Gemma Evans (Liverpool), Mayzee Davies (Liverpool Feds – Dual contract with Manchester United), Lily Woodham (Crystal Palace – On loan from Seattle Reign), Ella Powell (Bristol City), Anna Filbey (Watford), Alice Griffiths (Southampton), Angharad James (Seattle Reign), Lois Joel (Newcastle United), Rachel Rowe (Southampton), Carrie Jones (IFK Norrköping), Ellen Jones (Sunderland), Ffion Morgan (Bristol City), Jess Fishlock (Seattle Reign), Ceri Holland (Liverpool), Kayleigh Barton (Charlton Athletic), Mary McAteer (Sunderland), Mared Griffiths (Manchester United), Tianna Teisar (Bristol City), Hannah Cain (Leicester City).
