Ireland

The Republic of Ireland The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in men's international football competitions and is administered by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). The team made its debut at the 1924 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals. From 1924 to 1936, it competed under the name of the Irish Free State; thereafter until 1950, the FAI called it "Éire." In 1953, FIFA stipulated that in competitions where both Irish teams could participate, the FAI team would be officially named "Republic of Ireland," while the Northern Ireland team would be named "Northern Ireland." Before FIFA abolished this rule in 1984, Northern Ireland used the name "Ireland" in the home-field competition. In 1949, the Republic of Ireland defeated England at Goodison Park in Liverpool, becoming the first non-British team to defeat England on English soil. The team also reached the quarter-finals of the 1964 European Championship, ultimately losing to the champions, Spain.national football team represents Ireland in men international football. It is governed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). The team made their debut at the 1924 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals. Between 1924 and 1936, the team competed as the Irish Free State, and from then until 1950, it was referred to by the FAI as Éire or Ireland. In 1953, FIFA decreed that for competitive matches in tournaments that both Irish teams may enter, the FAI team would be officially called the Republic of Ireland while the IFA team was to be named Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland was allowed to use the title Ireland by FIFA in the Home International Competition until it was discontinued in 1984. The Republic of Ireland was the first nation from outside the United Kingdom to defeat England at home in a fixture played at Goodison Park, Liverpool, in 1949. The team also reached the quarter-final stage of the 1964 European Nations Cup, where they lost to the eventual champions Spain.