Rep of Ireland U21
| European U21 Championship Qual | 11/14 19:45 | - |
England U21
v
Rep of Ireland U21 
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| European U21 Championship Qual | 11/18 18:30 | - |
Andorra U21
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Rep of Ireland U21
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| European U21 Championship Qual | 03/26 10:00 | - |
Rep of Ireland U21 v
Moldova U21
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| European U21 Championship Qual | 03/31 10:00 | - |
Kazakhstan U21
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Rep of Ireland U21
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| European U21 Championship Qual | 09/25 10:00 | - |
Slovakia U21
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Rep of Ireland U21
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| European U21 Championship Qual | 09/29 10:00 | - |
Rep of Ireland U21 v
Kazakhstan U21
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| European U21 Championship Qual | 10/06 10:00 | - |
Rep of Ireland U21 v
England U21
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The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team is a representative team of Irish football players. It is governed by the Football Association of Ireland and represents them at Under-21 level against the national teams of other national associations. The team played its first match in 1978 and has competed in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship since 1988.
History
As a European under-21 team, the Republic of Ireland participates in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, which takes place every two years. There is no Under-21 World Cup, although there is an Under-20 World Cup. Ireland did not enter the first five Under-21 Championships, entering for the first time in 1988 but failing to qualify. Ireland have never qualified for the European Under-21 Championships.
UEFA European Under-21 Championship record
| UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship record | UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship Qualification record | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D * | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 1978 | did not enter | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||
| 1980 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||
| 1982 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||
| 1984 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||
| 1986 | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||||||||
| 1988 | did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | |||||||
| 1990 | did not enter | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||||||
| 1992 | did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 14 | |||||||
| 1994 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 20 | ||||||||
| 1996 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | ||||||||
| 1998 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2000 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 12 | ||||||||
| 2002 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 7 | ||||||||
| 2004 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | ||||||||
| 2006 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 14 | ||||||||
| 2007 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||||||
| 2009 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 14 | ||||||||
| 2011 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 11 | ||||||||
| 2013 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 10 | ||||||||
| 2015 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | ||||||||
| 2017 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 14 | 17 | ||||||||
| 2019 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 15 | ||||||||
| 2021 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 8 | ||||||||
| 2023 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 11 | ||||||||
| 2025 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 12 | ||||||||
| Total | – | 144 | 48 | 31 | 65 | 184 | 199 | |||||||
- *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty shootout.
The U21 squad competes in various tournaments, including the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers, where they showcase their abilities against other national teams from across Europe. The team's playing style is characterized by a strong emphasis on teamwork, resilience, and tactical discipline, reflecting the rich footballing heritage of Ireland.
With a focus on nurturing young talent, the Republic of Ireland U21 team provides a platform for emerging players to gain valuable international experience and exposure. Many former U21 players have successfully transitioned to the senior national team, contributing to the growth and success of Irish football on the global stage.
The team's colors are green, white, and orange, symbolizing the national identity, and they proudly represent the hopes and aspirations of young Irish footballers. Fans passionately support the U21 team, creating an electric atmosphere during home matches, as they cheer on the next generation of stars aiming to make their mark in the world of soccer.