O'Toole hopes to make home World Cup

Kevin O'Toole is hoping his big breakthrough into international football can coincide with a historic World Cup qualification.

The New Jersey-born left footer plays for Major League Soccer club New York City FC and is eligible to represent the Republic of Ireland by way of his paternal grandfather Eric O'Toole.

He received his first international call-up ahead of the World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary.

"Of course I was thrilled", O’Toole told RTÉ Sport about his introduction to the Ireland camp by Heimir Hallgrimsson.

"I was having conversations with the head coach Heimir for the better part of almost a year and so, I knew that I was on his radar but I wasn’t sure exactly how close I was to breaching the squad.

"Once the depth became a bit of an issue in the squad with some injuries in the position, I thought that I might have a chance and was informed that I would be on the provisional roster a few weeks before the final announcement came."

"Once it became official I was so thrilled," he went on.

"I had a moment of reflection with my family and was just super thrilled to be included. Knowing now what it proved to be, that camp was just incredible."

While he did not earn that first cap, both World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Hungary resulted in what could prove to be the most consequential wins for the Boys in Green in over 20 years, with the team now the closest it has been to making the tournament since their last appearance in 2002.

But for O’Toole, the games provided a spiritual avenue of connecting to his Irish grandfather who passed away in 2001.

"I feel like he was present in those two games against Portugal and Hungary," he said regarding his grandfather’s memory.

"A bit of a guardian angel for me, bringing me into the camp and then for the experience, for the country and what it meant for the people."

Being the man of the moment directly responsible for Ireland’s latest World Cup qualifying wins, O’Toole also has a great deal of respect for Troy Parrott and even gave him some words of luck prior to scoring his renowned goals.

"We shared a funny moment between the two matches coming off the pitch during the matchday minus one training against Hungary, I told him another brace against Hungary wouldn’t be so bad. He agreed and then he went out and got a hat-trick.

"It was just incredible what he was able to do in that camp, it’s the stuff of legends and we’ll certainly need him again in the upcoming match against the Czech Republic."

On his return to New York City FC, he started up front in the Audi MLS Eastern Conference semi-final win over Philadelphia before being humbled 5-1 by Inter Miami in the the conference final. The club are currently in pre-season ahead of a 2026 campaign that will be interrupted by the small matter of the World Cup.

With the United States being one of the host countries for this summer's tournament, including several fixtures in O’Toole’s native New Jersey, Ireland’s entry into the competition could prove to be the collision of his two worlds.

"I don’t know if I could dream it up," O’Toole remarked on the possibility.

"Being in the World Cup would be one thing, but to have it be the country I was born and raised in would be out of this world. I hope that we’re able to get the job done in March, I hope to be involved in that camp and then, if all goes well, be involved in the World Cup."

Before their World Cup dream can be realised, Ireland will have to contend with facing the Czech Republic next month, something O’Toole is eagerly anticipating.

"I just hope we have the opportunity to get to that moment. I know what it would mean for the country. It’s a country that has been waiting 20-plus years for another World Cup appearance so it would just be such a special moment."

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