Northern Ireland's news

PreviewsNorthern Ireland will have 'one last swing' at World Cup placeBoss Michael McArdle says Northern Ireland will have "one last swing" at trying to reach a first Women's World Cup as they look to overcome a four-goal play-off deficit in Portugal.
BBC6 days

Match Reports

Portugal thrashes Northern Ireland in the 2027 World Cup play‑offFrancisco Neto’s team won away 5‑0, practically sealing their place in the next qualifying round.
Tribuna Expresso9 days
Italy U17: Success against Northern Ireland and qualification for Round 2 of the European ChampionshipItaly’s U17 women won 4‑0 over Northern Ireland and advanced to Round 2 of League A, which is part of qualification for the European U17 tournament.
Calcio Femminile Italiano5 days
Women's World Cup Qualifiers Northern Ireland v Portugal plus updates from Republic of Ireland v KazakhstanLive coverage of Northern Ireland v Portugal from Portimao plus updates from Republic of Ireland v Kazakhstan from Cork
BBC6 days
Portugal wins and moves forward in the play-off for the women's World Cup: the final opponent is IcelandThe national team beat Northern Ireland again, this time 3-1, securing a place in the second and final World Cup 2027 qualification play-off, where Iceland will be the rival.
Tribuna Expresso5 days
McArdle 'really encouraged' despite Portugal lossNorthern Ireland manager Michael McArdle says their play-off defeat by Portugal is "the start of a new identity" despite their heavy 7-1 aggregate loss.
BBC5 days
NI debut 'something I thought had passed' - ElmoreNorthern Ireland's World Cup hopes may have all but come to an end against Portugal, but for Kess Elmore the 4-0 defeat marks the start of a long-awaited international journey.
BBC8 days

International

Portugal thrashes Northern Ireland in World Cup 2027 qualifying play‑offThe team of Francisco Neto defeated Northern Ireland away by 5‑0, practically sealing their place in the next qualifying round.
Tribuna Expresso9 days
Northern Ireland, Michael McArdle: “With this four‑goal deficit, qualification goes from unlikely to impossible”A painful defeat for Northern Ireland, which lost 4‑0 to Portugal, severely damaging its path to the 2027 Brazil World Cup. Coach Michael McArdle, interviewed after the final whistle, admitted that his team’s chances of beating Portugal have “gone …”
Calcio Femminile Italiano6 days
Italy U17 Women's Round 1 European Qualifier: good draw against Norway, next match against Northern IrelandOn the day of the double youth national team fixtures between Norway and Italy (the other match was played in Tirrenia between the Under‑19s), the Italian Under‑17 team earned a good draw against the hosts in the second game of Round 1 of European qualification.
Calcio Femminile Italiano8 days
‘Like a movie script’: Michael McArdle backs Northern Ireland to make historyManager says he has made team ‘play-off ready’ since taking over in March. They now face Portugal in their quest to reach World Cup For seven and a half years, Michael McArdle worked in the construction industry while playing semi-professional football, studying for a degree in building services engineering and raising three young children together with his wife. Any leftover earnings he put into funding his football coaching badges. Eventually he took a big risk and decided to take “probably a
The Guardian10 days
Women's World Cup 2027: How can England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland qualify?England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland are among those hoping to qualify for next year's Women's World Cup. What awaits them in the play-offs?
BBC10 days
NI World Cup hopes gone from 'improbable to impossible'Michael McArdle admits Northern Ireland's chances of beating Portugal in a Women's World Cup play-off have "gone from improbable to impossible" after a 4-0 first leg defeat.
BBC9 days
U17 Women's National Team – Azzurrine into Round 2 of European qualification. Del Prete: “It’s the right path”Mission accomplished. The 4-0 win over Northern Ireland, in the third and final match of Group A1, gives the Under‑17 Women's National Team access to Round 2 of European qualification. Italy leads with 4 points and can finish strong, both in performance and results: after the loss to Austria and the draw ...
Calcio Femminile Italiano4 days
How can home nations reach Women's World Cup?England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland are among those hoping to qualify for next year's Women's World Cup. What awaits them in the play-offs?
BBC5 days
Portugal: “We cannot lose focus on what we want, we must face Tuesday’s match with the utmost seriousness”Good first leg for Portugal who won 4-0 against Northern Ireland thanks to goals from Telma Encarnação, Jéssica Silva, Fátima Pinto and an own‑goal by Rebecca Holloway. In the return match on Tuesday at 19:15 the Portuguese will host the opponents at the Municipal Stadium of Portimão.
Calcio Femminile Italiano5 days

Opinion & Features

Women’s World Cup Qualifier: Northern Ireland v Portugal - Can the Underdogs Keep It Alive?Betting tips and predictions for the Women's World Cup qualifier between Northern Ireland and Portugal on Friday 9th October | WH News.
William Hill News10 days
Lionesses breeze past Greece and how to progress the game – Women’s Football WeeklyFaye Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Wrack , Tom Garry and Anton Toloui to discuss the World Cup playoffs and more Faye Carruthers is joined by Suzanne Wrack , Tom Garry and Anton Toloui to discuss the World Cup playoffs. On the podcast today: England make light work of Greece to progress to the final stage of the playoffs. There are also wins for Wales, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, but Northern Ireland crash out against Portugal. Continue reading...
The Guardian4 days
'You can be a mum and a footballer - they can co-exist'Northern Ireland striker Simone Magill tells BBC Sport NI about balancing motherhood with her return to football and how her life has changed since giving birth to daughter Skye earlier this year.
BBC9 days