Ireland finalise World Cup hotel and training ground in Brisbane

The Republic of Ireland will based in Brisbane for their World Cup matches in Australia this summer.

Competing countries will use dedicated team base camps at the tournament, each one including a training site and accommodation.

Ireland will stay at the five-star Emporium Hotel and use the 1,500-capacity Goodwin Park to train.

Their first game in Group B against co-hosts Australia will be played in the Sydney Football Stadium on 20 July before they travel to Perth to meet Canada on 26 July in the Perth Rectangular Stadium and then take on Nigeria in Lang Park in Brisbane on 31 July.

"We's delighted that our team base camp will be in Brisbane, because it was actually our first choice and will help with our preparation for our games in the World Cup," said Pauw.

"After the draw for the tournament was made, I was part of our FAI delegation that flew directly to Sydney to visit some of the potential hotels and training grounds on offer to teams. But we actually decided that Brisbane would be a better fit and our International Operations Department completed a site visit of the facilities there and supplied a detailed report that gave us a fantastic insight.

"A lot of work has already taken place in preparation for next year's tournament and we look forward to getting the players back in again for a camp in February, but it is very positive that we now know our team base camp."

Ireland - who moved up to an all-time high of 23rd in the latest FIFA world rankings - will have international camps in February, April and June ahead of the World Cup.