RTE and Channel 5 are to show live coverage of the Republic of Ireland's bid to join England and Scotland in next year's World Cup finals in France. Both legs of the World Cup play-off against Belgium - in Dublin on October 29th and Brussels on November 15th - will be televised on Channel 5 in the United Kingdom, with RTE broadcasting coverage in the Republic at the same time. Channel 5's broadcasting frequency does not extend to the Republic.

The deal follows Channel 5's recent exclusive showing of Scotland's victory over Latvia and England's win in Poland earlier in the year.