The Republic of Ireland will be bottom seeds if they qualify for the 2026 World Cup in North America

Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, have been sent home.

The 28-year-old striker died on January 21, 2019 when the light aircraft he was travelling in from France crashed into the English Channel.

The Middle East country is all-but certain to host the finals in 11 years’ time.