Ireland will compete for ninth place in the World Cup against either New Zealand or Pakistan after a 2-1 defeat to France. The team had already secured their position in the playoff due to prior results in Pool H, marking their best finish in World Cup history, surpassing their previous highest of 12th place in 1978 and 1990.
Ireland's historic World Cup finish sets the stage for crucial EuroHockey qualifiers. Watch for their upcoming match against New Zealand or Pakistan, as a strong performance could solidify their sixth seed for the Euros, impacting their Olympic qualifier chances.