Republic to play Belgium and Switzerland in March

StephenKenny pictured after his final game in charge of the Republic of Ireland, a 1-1 friendly draw with New Zealand

The Republic of Ireland will play a friendly double-header against Belgium and Switzerland in Dublin in March.

Ireland will play the Belgians at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, 23 March before taking on the Swiss at the same venue three days later.

Ireland will have another international friendly double-header in June, with the opposition to be confirmed at a later date.

They will then begin their Nations League campaign in September.

The Republic are currently without a manager after Stephen Kenny’s departure from the post last month.

Kenny, who was appointed as Mick McCarthy’s successor in April 2020, failed to qualify for a major tournament during his three-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the side.

Belgium last visited the Aviva in March 2022 for the FAI centenary celebration match that ended 2-2, while Switzerland will return to Dublin for the first time since a Euro 2020 qualifier in September 2019 that finished 1-1.