Republic of Ireland vs Armenia Predictions

• The Republic of Ireland have conceded in seven of their last eight home games
• The visitors lost 3-2 in a visit to Dublin in 2022, while they won the reverse meeting 2-1 last month
• Armenia’s last clean sheet came over three years ago
• The Irish have conceded 20 goals in 13 games under Heimir Hallgrímsson, conceding in six of their seven games in 2025

Aimless Irish search for direction

With one point to show from their first three qualifiers, the Republic of Ireland’s chances of replicating their USA ’94 heroics next summer look remote.

The Irish suffered a last-gasp loss in Portugal on Saturday, leaving them bottom of their qualifying group. That narrow loss was arguably their best display so far, after they fell 2-0 down to Hungary in their opener before their 2-1 loss in Armenia.

The FAI tried to move past the tenures of Martin O’Neill and Mick McCarthy with the appointment of Stephen Kenny, but he didn’t have the players to implement the style of play he was expected to bring.

Heimir Hallgrímsson’s reign hasn’t brought much in the way of progress, with six defeats in 13 games with 20 goals conceded. Their only clean sheet in 2025 came against Luxembourg in a friendly in June, while they conceded home and away in wins over a poor Bulgaria side in March.

Armenia should threaten in this trip, having netted twice in visits to Kosovo and Montenegro in June. They scored in a loss at Georgia earlier this year, while they scored eight times in six Nations League games at the end of 2024. Their visit to Dublin in the same competition in 2022 saw them lose a five-goal thriller.

The Irish have managed one clean sheet across their last eight home matches. They meet an Armenian side that hasn’t kept a clean sheet in an international since mid-2022, so back both teams to score.