Northern Ireland host Slovakia in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in UEFA Qualifying Group A.
Victory could see Northern Ireland move top of the group if Germany fail to win elsewhere, whilst Slovakia will stay top with a win and move onto the cusp of securing automatic qualification for the World Cup.
Team News
Northern Ireland have no fresh injury concerns with a full squad available for selection.
Slovakia have no fresh injury concerns with a full squad available for selection.
When is Kick-Off?
Northern Ireland host Slovakia on Friday 10 October at Windsor Park, Belfast, in a 7:45pm BST kick-off, live on BBC1 Northern Ireland and BBC2 in rest of UK.
Stat Attack
- Northern Ireland lost both of their two previous FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Slovakia (L2).
- Slovakia won 2-0 in their only previous FIFA World Cup Qualifier away to Northern Ireland in September 2009.
- Northern Ireland have conceded twice in each of their two home games against Slovakia in all competitions this century.
- Northern Ireland’s two goals at home so far in 2025 have both been scored by Isaac Price.
- Slovakia are yet to concede in this FIFA World Cup Qualifying group (W2).
Prediction
Defeat away to Germany was always going to be the outcome but Northern Ireland didn’t totally disgrace themselves aside from two sloppy second-half goals conceded in quick succession, so they need to take the positives and try to find the clinical spark once more.
Slovakia meanwhile have demonstrated a resilient defence to beat Germany and Luxembourg in their first two qualifiers with clean sheets and a clinical end product, and I can’t see it being much different here if they continue their solid defensive work.
Both teams though are capable of getting a result if execute their game plans properly and if Northern Ireland bring the same spark which saw them beat Luxembourg in their group opener, I can see them nicking a point here.
Prediction: Northern Ireland 1-1 Slovakia
Result: Northern Ireland 2-0 Slovakia