Canada v Republic of Ireland Prediction: Reds to blank Ireland in 3/4 contest

Republic of Ireland provide the opposition for Canada in the early hours of Saturday as the World Cup co-hosts gear up for the tournament which kicks off in a week's time.

The Boys in Green failed to qualify after losing a play-off semi-final to the Czech Republic on penalties in March, but now head out to Saputo Stadium in Montreal for an international friendly with the Reds.

Canada have played a season of friendlies having qualified for the World Cup as co-hosts and will be eager to impress the home support ahead of their opening Group B game against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday, June 12th.

Canada v Republic of Ireland Tips Summary

Best Bet - Under 2.5 goals @ 3/4
Alternative Bet - Cyle Larin first team goalscorer @ 3/1
Bet Builder - Canada to win, Both teams to score - No & Jake O'Brien to be carded @ 14/1

Canada v Republic of Ireland Prediction

Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 3/4

Canada have played 10 matches since the start of September and only two have featured three goals or more.

The Reds have kept six clean sheets in seven games, while also drawing a blank in three of those and so matches involving Canada very rarely see plenty of goalmouth action.

Five of the last eight matches involving the Republic of Ireland have also seen two goals or fewer recorded, so it's unlikely this match in Montreal will be a high-scoring fixture.

The Irish have kept three straight clean sheets, while the goals conceded against Hungary and the Czech Republic were anomalies this year.

The Boys in Green did score five against Grenada in May, but Canada will be a much tougher proposition and a low-scoring game with few chances appears to be on the cards.

For the Republic of Ireland, Saturday's match will bring the curtain down on the 2025/26 season ahead of September's Nations League game with Kosovo.

However, for Canada, this is the last dress rehearsal before a World Cup on home soil and so the hosts will be determined to keep it tight in the back in preparation for the tournament.

Alternative Bet: Cyle Larin first team goalscorer @ 3/1

Canada's Cyle Larin suffered a disappointing end to the season as Southampton's Championship play-off hopes were ended by off-field matters, while the striker has been struggling to make his mark on the international stage in recent times.

He has not found the net for the Reds since October 2024, leaving him stranded on 30 international goals as Juventus forward Jonathan David pulls away at the top of the national team charts.

However, Larin will be desperate to show what he can do with the World Cup just around the corner and he can open the scoring in this match.

Canada v Republic of Ireland Bet Builder Tip

• Canada to win

• Both teams to score - No

• Jake O'Brien to be carded

  Pays @ 14/1

Canada are favourites to win the game with home advantage playing a factor alongside the fact that Jesse Marsch's side have lost just once in the last 17 matches.

Ireland, meanwhile, have lost two of their last four away matches in 90 minutes. Though victory in Hungary was impressive, it would take another top performance to avoid defeat on Saturday.

Only one Canada game in 10 this season has seen both teams score, while six of Ireland's last eight matches have seen goals scored by both sides.

While friendlies are often slower paced than competitive matches, Ireland's match with Qatar in May saw two red cards with Jack Moylan dismissed.

With that in mind, it's important to consider cards and defender Jake O'Brien could be a wise choice to be booked, having picked up four yellow cards in his last five Everton matches of the Premier League campaign.

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Key Match Stats

• Canada's last seven goals in friendlies have been scored by six different players.

• Only two of Canada's last 10 games have seen three goals or more.

• Canada have kept six clean sheets in their last seven matches.

• The Republic of Ireland have kept three straight clean sheets.

• Ireland won the only previous meeting of these two teams 3-0 in November 2003.

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.