Republic of Ireland women’s head coach Carla Ward says a win over France in their upcoming World Cup qualifier would be “one of the biggest stories in world football.” Both BBC Sport and RTE report that Ward frames a victory as significant not only for the teams’ immediate results but also because it would secure Ireland automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The comments come ahead of Tuesday’s encounter, described as a showdown with a direct qualification implication. Ward’s assessment emphasizes the scale of the challenge posed by France, a strong opponent in European women’s football, and the potential impact of an Irish win on the tournament picture. The reports present Ward’s perspective without adding conflicting detail about team selection, match conditions, or other outcomes. Together, the sources agree on the central point: Ward expects the match result to carry major sporting significance if Ireland can beat France and guarantee their place at the 2027 World Cup.