The Republic of Ireland women's side will face world champions Spain as well as Norway and Switzerland in League A of the upcoming UEFA Nations League, following Tuesday's draw.

The headline clash against Spain marks the first meeting between the two nations in over a decade; their last encounter came in April 2016, when Spain secured a 3-0 victory in UEFA Women’s EURO 2017 qualifying.

Reflecting on the draw, Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward quipped: "Who doesn't want to play against the world champions?

"From the moment I took this job, I’ve said time and time again that we want to test ourselves against the very best, and this is our opportunity. Spain are the best team in the world right now; their quality is exceptional and nobody really comes close to them.

"We know the challenge ahead. It’s going to be a game where we have to be extraordinarily disciplined, stay compact, and frustrate them. We’ve shown against sides like France and the Netherlands that we have that resilience in our DNA, and that has to be the exact mindset we bring to the pitch.

Ward also added: "There are no easy games at this level in League A. Norway have real prestige as former world champions, and on paper they possess one of the strongest squads in world football. They're also managed by a good friend of mine in Gemma Grainger, so I'm really looking forward to going up against her.

"Switzerland are another really difficult prospect, just off the back of a solid campaign and very capable, developing side who have picked up strong results recently. We respect every opponent, but we also back ourselves. We genuinely believe we can go toe-to-toe with the best and get results.

"Every single matchday matters now, and that’s what we thrive on. You learn so much more when you compete against elite opposition. To be in these conversations, in this league, and drawn against these teams is a clear reflection of the strides and progress this squad continues to make."

Ireland enter the campaign seeking to establish themselves as a top European side, with the added cherry of potential qualification for LA 2028 Olympics, should they top the group.

The campaign will kick off in February 2027, with the full fixture schedule to be confirmed by UEFA later this month.