The Football Association of Ireland announced today the call-up of Harvey Vale, the former captain of the England U19 team, to represent Ireland in the World Cup 2026 playoffs against the Czech Republic. This move is significant as Ireland aims to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2002, seeking to overcome a long-standing drought in major international tournaments.

Vale, a midfielder who began his career at Chelsea's academy, captained England to victory in the UEFA U19 Championship in 2022. Recently, he confirmed his change of national allegiance to Ireland, which was recognized by FIFA just last week. At 22 years old, Vale has made a transition to Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship, where he continues to pursue his professional career.

In a statement shared on social media by Queens Park Rangers, Vale expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting the importance of this moment and his excitement about getting the chance from the Irish coach. He mentioned his previous injury that kept him from joining the Irish squad sooner, but he is eager to contribute to Ireland’s efforts in the playoff and is hopeful of making a significant impact with his new national team.