The Republic of Ireland women’s national team has begun its pursuit of World Cup qualification with a crucial first-leg play-off semi-final match against Kazakhstan. The contest is taking place at the Astana Arena in Astana, Kazakhstan. This game marks an important step in their qualification journey, as they aim to advance towards the FIFA World Cup tournament. Manager Carla Ward will be hoping her side can secure a positive result ahead of the return leg. The team will face a challenging atmosphere and opposition on the pitch in Astana. A win or a draw would put the Republic of Ireland in a strong position to reach the next stage of the competition. This match is the first of two needed to advance.