The Northern Ireland women's national football team represents Northern Ireland in international women's football. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, FIFA statutes permit Northern Ireland as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations to maintain its own national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.
Association | Irish Football Association (IFA) | ||
---|---|---|---|
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
Head coach | Tanya Oxtoby[1] | ||
Captain | Simone Magill | ||
Most caps | Julie Nelson (125) | ||
Top scorer | Rachel Furness (38) | ||
FIFA code | NIR | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 44 1 (13 December 2024)[2] | ||
Highest | 44 (December 2024) | ||
Lowest | 85 (June 2005) | ||
First international | |||
Republic of Ireland 4–1 Northern Ireland (Dublin, Republic of Ireland; 30 June 1973) | |||
Biggest win | |||
North Macedonia 0–11 Northern Ireland (Skopje, North Macedonia; 25 November 2021) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
Scotland 11–1 Northern Ireland (Clydebank, Scotland, 23 November 1974) England 10–0 Northern Ireland (Blackburn, England, 16 March 1986) | |||
European Championship | |||
Appearances | 1 (first in 2022) | ||
Best result | Group stage (2022) |
The team were the lowest UEFA-ranked team (27th)[3] to qualify for the European Championships Finals in England in 2022.
In September 2021 it was announced that the senior women's team would be adopting a full-time professional set up ahead of Euro 2022.[4]
Results and fixtures
editThe following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2024
edit23 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League promotion/relegation matches | Montenegro | 0–2 | Northern Ireland | Podgorica |
14:00 | Report | Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium |
27 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League promotion/relegation matches | Northern Ireland | 1–1 (3–1 agg.) | Montenegro | Belfast |
20:00 (19:00 GMT) | Report | Stadium: Windsor Park | ||
Note: Northern Ireland won 3–1 on aggregate, and therefore both teams remained in their respective leagues. |
5 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Northern Ireland | 0–0 | Malta | Belfast |
Report | Stadium: Windsor Park Referee: Maria Marotta (Italy) |
9 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–3 | Northern Ireland | Zenica |
Report | Stadium: Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre Referee: Désirée Grundbacher (Switzerland) |
31 May Euro 2025 qualifying | Portugal | 4–0 | Northern Ireland | Leiria |
21:45 (20:45 UTC+1) | Report | Stadium: Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa Attendance: 10,017 Referee: Tess Olofsson (Sweden) |
4 June Euro 2025 qualifying | Northern Ireland | 1–2 | Portugal | Lurgan |
20:00 (19:00 UTC+1) |
|
Report | Stadium: Mourneview Park Referee: Franziska Wildfeuer (Germany) |
12 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Malta | 0–2 | Northern Ireland | Ta' Qali |
19:30 | Report | Stadium: Centenary Stadium |
16 July Euro 2025 qualifying | Northern Ireland | 2–0 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Belfast |
19:00 (18:00 UTC+1) | Report | Stadium: Windsor Park |
25 October 2024 Euro 2025 qualifying play-off | Croatia | 1–1 | Northern Ireland | Varaždin, Croatia |
18:00 CEST (UTC+01:00) | Lojna 4' (pen.) | Report | Lojna 90+2' (o.g.) | Stadium: Stadion Varteks |
29 October 2024 Euro 2025 qualifying play-off | Northern Ireland | 1–0 (a.e.t.) (2–1 agg.) | Croatia | Belfast |
20:00 CEST (UTC+01:00) |
|
Report | Stadium: Windsor Park |
29 November 2024 Euro 2025 qualifying play-off | Northern Ireland | v | Norway | Larne, Northern Ireland |
20:00 CEST (UTC+01:00) | Stadium: Inver Park |
3 December 2024 Euro 2025 qualifying play-off | Norway | v | Northern Ireland | Oslo, Norway |
18:00 | Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion |
Coaching staff
editManager history
edit- Alfie Wylie (2004–2019)[5]
- Kenny Shiels (2019–2023)[6][7]
- Tanya Oxtoby (2023–)[1]
Players
editCurrent squad
edit- The following players are named in the squad for the UEFA Euro 2025 qualifying two matches against Norway, on 29 November and 3 December 2024 respectively.[8]
- Caps and goals updated as of 5 December 2023 after the match against Republic of Ireland.
Recent call-ups
edit- The following players have been named to a squad in the past 12 months.
- This list may be incomplete.
Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GK | Shannon Turner | 8 September 1997 | 6 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
GK | Lilie Woods | 29 August 2003 | 1 | 0 | Mid-Ulster | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 |
GK | Lauren Perry | 5 April 2001 | 5 | 0 | Montrose | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
DF | Abbie Magee | 15 November 2000 | 12 | 0 | Cliftonville | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9 April 2024 |
DF | Sarah McFadden | 23 May 1987 | 104 | 9 | Durham | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
DF | Demi Vance | 2 May 1991 | 90 | 4 | Glentoran | v. Croatia,29 October 2024 |
DF | Rachel McLaren | 19 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | Crusaders | v. Croatia,29 October 2024 |
MF | Rachel Furness | 19 June 1988 | 95 | 38 | Bristol City | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 INJ |
MF | Nadene Caldwell | 24 January 1991 | 78 | 2 | Glentoran | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
MF | Marissa Callaghan | 2 September 1985 | 86 | 9 | Cliftonville | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
FW | Caitlin McGuinness | 30 August 2002 | 18 | 1 | Cliftonville | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 |
FW | Kirsty McGuinness | 4 November 1994 | 57 | 14 | Cliftonville | v. Albania, 26 September 2023 |
FW | Caragh Hamilton | 18 October 1996 | 38 | 6 | Lewes | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
Notes:
- INJ Withdrew due to injury.
- WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury or medical issue
Records
edit- Statistics correct as of 5 December 2023.
- Active players in bold.
Most capsedit
|
Most goalsedit
|
Simone Magill holds the world record for the fastest international goal in women's football. Previously, US forward Alex Morgan had held the record at twelve seconds. Magill achieved an eleven-second goal against Georgia at the start of a European Qualifying match on 3 June 2016. The goal marks the fastest ever international goal by any national Northern Irish team – male or female.[9]
Competitive record
editFIFA Women's World Cup
editFIFA Women's World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | |||
1991 | Did not qualify | UEFA EURO 1991 | ||||||||||||||||
1995 | Did not enter | UEFA EURO 1995 | ||||||||||||||||
1999 | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||||
2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
2007 | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | −4 | ||||||||||
2011 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 16 | −8 | |||||||||||
2015 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 19 | −16 | |||||||||||
2019 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 27 | −23 | |||||||||||
2023 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 16 | +20 | |||||||||||
2027 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
Total | 0/10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 44 | 13 | 11 | 23 | 58 | 89 | −31 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's Championship
editUEFA Women's Championship record | Qualifying record | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | P/R | Rnk | |
1984 | Did not qualify | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 21 | – | ||||||||
1987 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 35 | ||||||||||
1989 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1991 | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 21 | – | ||||||||
1993 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||||
1995 | ||||||||||||||||
1997 | ||||||||||||||||
2001 | ||||||||||||||||
2005 | ||||||||||||||||
2009 | Did not qualify | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 28 | – | ||||||||
2013 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 15 | ||||||||||
2017 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 22 | ||||||||||
2022 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 18 | |||
2025 | Did not qualify | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 15 | [a] | 23rd | |||||||
Total | 1/14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 65 | 17 | 8 | 40 | 72 | 175 | 23rd |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's Nations League
editUEFA Women's Nations League record | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | League | Group | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | P/R | RK | |
2023–24 | B | 1 | 3rd | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 14 | * | 26th | |
2025 | B | 1 | To be determined | |||||||||
Total | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 26th |
Promoted at end of season | |
No movement at end of season | |
Relegated at end of season | |
* | Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ From Euro 2025 onwards a new qualifying format was introduced, linked to the Women's Nations League where teams are divided into leagues with promotion/relegation between the leagues at the end of each cycle.
References
edit- ^ a b Archer, Kenny (1 September 2023). "New Northern Ireland women's manager Tanya Oxtoby targeting top tournaments". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
- ^ "Women's National Teams Coefficient Overview" (PDF). editorial.uefa.com. 24 February 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ VAVEL.com (29 September 2021). "Northern Ireland Women move to a full-time international set-up". VAVEL. Archived from the original on 29 September 2021. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "Alfie Wylie leaves role as Northern Ireland women's manager after 15 years to take new IFA job". Belfast Telegraph. 12 April 2019.
- ^ "Kenny Shiels: Former Kilmarnock boss appointed Northern Ireland senior women's manager". BBC Sport. 16 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "Kenny Shiels: Northern Ireland women's manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Oxtoby names senior women's squad for play-off final". Irish Football Association. 13 November 2024. Archived from the original on 22 November 2024. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ^ Fullerton, Gareth (7 October 2017). "Northern Ireland striker recognised for scoring fastest goal ever!". belfastlive. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.