Tough 2023 FIFA World Cup group but 'nothing to fear' for Ireland - Lisa Fallon

Australia, Canada and Nigeria represent tough opposition for Republic of Ireland at next year's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup but Vera Pauw's side need not fear that trio according to Lisa Fallon.

The Irish side will feature in a major tournament for the first time ever when it kicks off in Australia and New Zealand next summer, with all the games to be screened live on RTÉ.

On Saturday, the scale of the dream challenge became clearer as the Girls in Green were pitted into a difficult group featuring the co-hosts, the current Olympic champions and Africa's most successful side.

Pauw's squad will open the campaign in Sydney against Australia on 20 July, before travelling across the vast country to Perth for a match versus the Canadians before rounding out the group five days after that in Brisbane against Nigeria.

While it is one of the more challenging groups Ireland could have been landed with, coach and analyst Fallon feels it shouldn't hold many fears.

Speaking from India where she is attending the Women's U17 World Cup, Fallon told this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast, "There are probably one or two other groups that could have been slightly tougher.

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Watch Lisa Fallon's full World Cup group analysis and much more above.

"I think we wouldn't have wanted Group E. I don't think Vera would have wanted USA and Netherlands in the same group. That was probably the one group she wouldn't have wanted.

"Australia, Canada and Nigeria is a tough group but I really believe there is nothing to fear in this.