DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland coach Heimir Hallgrímsson signed a new contract on Thursday ahead of the World Cup qualifying playoffs and kept him through the 2028 European Championship where Dublin is a host city.

Hallgrímsson, who led Iceland at its first World Cup in 2018, said there was “big pressure” from the Irish soccer federation to sign before the playoff games.

Ireland plays at the Czech Republic next Thursday with the winner advancing to host Denmark or North Macedonia five days later. The winner on March 31 advances to a World Cup group with co-host Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.

Hallgrímsson guided Ireland to the playoffs with remarkable back-to-back wins last November in a qualifying group that looked lost.

Ireland beat Portugal 2-0 in Dublin — where Cristiano Ronaldo was famously sent off then not suspended by FIFA from any World Cup games — and won 3-2 in Hungary to take second place.

All five Irish goals were scored by Troy Parrott capped by a dramatic winner deep in stoppage time in Budapest that entered soccer lore.

“Signing this now, before the playoffs, is a statement of our shared belief and allows us to focus 100% on the massive task ahead of us in March without any distractions,” Hallgrímsson said.

He was appointed two years ago and had given to the team “a clear vision, a strong tactical identity, and a sense of belief,” federation chief executive David Courell said.

Euro 2028 is being co-hosted by England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

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