Ireland call up Shanade Hopcroft for Kazakhstan World Cup play-off

Carla Ward has named Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft in the Republic of Ireland squad for October's Women's World Cup play-off against Kazakhstan. BBC Sport reported the selection alongside Heather Payne's return after a year away from the squad.

Hopcroft, 28, was born in England and is eligible for Ireland through her grandmother, who was born in County Sligo. Her inclusion comes with Ward missing several players for the opening leg, including suspended captain Katie McCabe and midfielder Marissa Sheva.

The call-up follows Hopcroft's return to Palace earlier this month. An announcement carried by WSL Football on 3 September confirmed a two-year contract and the number 24 shirt. It is a second spell at the club for a player who initially arrived from London City Lionesses in 2023, having started her career in Chelsea's academy.

Hopcroft's first Palace season brought both team success and individual recognition. She contributed six goals and three assists across 27 appearances as Palace won the Women's Championship and earned promotion to the Women's Super League. Her team-mates also selected her for their player-of-the-season award. The club announcement noted that injury subsequently disrupted her 2024-25 campaign before she began the following season in WSL 2.

For Ireland, Denise O'Sullivan will not travel for the first leg, according to BBC Sport. Tara O'Hanlon is out of both matches with a hamstring injury, while Saoirse Noonan will miss both with an ankle problem. Ruesha Littlejohn, currently without a club, has not been selected.

Ireland enter the play-offs after June's defeat by France ended their chance of automatic qualification. The team made their first World Cup appearance at the 2023 tournament in Australia and must now negotiate the play-off route to return to the competition.

The Kazakhstan tie begins in Astana on 9 October, with kick-off scheduled for 12:00 BST. Ireland then host the return at Pairc Ui Chaoimh in Cork on 13 October. Progress over the two games would set up a play-off final against Poland or Belgium.