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 | Marissa Callaghan | ||
Most caps | Julie Nelson (125) | ||
Top scorer | Rachel Furness (38) | ||
FIFA code | NIR | ||
| |||
FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 45 3 (16 August 2024)[2] | ||
Highest | 45 (March – June 2023; August 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
2023
edit23 September UEFA Women's Nations League | Republic of Ireland | 3–0 | Northern Ireland | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
13:00 UTC+1 | Source | Stadium: Aviva Stadium Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria) |
26 September UEFA Women's Nations League | Northern Ireland | 1–0 | Albania | Belfast |
--:-- | Wade 57' | Source | Stadium: Seaview Stadium Referee: Zulema González (Spain) |
27 October UEFA Women's Nations League | Hungary | 3–2 | Northern Ireland | Győr, Hungary |
--:-- 18:15 | Source | Stadium: Ménfői úti Stadion Attendance: 332 Referee: Jurgita Mačikunytė (Lithuania) |
31 October UEFA Women's Nations League | Northern Ireland | 1–1 | Hungary | Belfast |
20:00 (19:00 GMT) |
|
Source |
|
Stadium: Seaview Stadium Attendance: 948 Referee: Jelena Pejković (Croatia) |
1 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Albania | 0–4 | Northern Ireland | Tirana, Albania |
Report | Stadium: Arena Kombëtare |
5 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Northern Ireland | 1–6 | Republic of Ireland | Belfast |
Report | Stadium: Windsor Park |
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 |
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 matches against Malta and Bosnia and Herzegovina, on 12 and 16 July 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 | Rachael Norney | 18 June 2004 | 1 | 0 | Liverpool Feds | v. Republic of Ireland, 5 December 2023 |
GK | Lilie Woods | 29 August 2003 | 1 | 0 | Mid-Ulster | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 |
DF | Abbie Magee | 15 November 2000 | 12 | 0 | Cliftonville | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9 April 2024 |
DF | Rachel McLaren | 19 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | Crusaders | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 9 April 2024 |
DF | Ellie Mason | 16 February 1996 | 4 | 0 | Birmingham City | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
DF | Sarah McFadden | 23 May 1987 | 104 | 9 | Durham | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
MF | Rachel Furness | 19 June 1988 | 95 | 38 | Bristol City | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 INJ |
MF | Megan Bell | 17 April 2001 | 25 | 2 | Hearts | v. Portugal, 4 June 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 |
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 | |
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 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||
Total | 1/13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 55 | 13 | 6 | 36 | 62 | 160 |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's Nations League
editUEFA Women's Nations League record | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Division | Group | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | P/R | RK | |
2023–24 | B | 1 | 3rd | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 13 | - | 25th | |
2025–26 | B | To be determined | ||||||||||
Total | 18th |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Archer, Kenny (1 September 2023). "New Northern Ireland women's manager Tanya Oxtoby targeting top tournaments". The Irish News. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "Women's National Teams Coefficient Overview" (PDF). editorial.uefa.com. 24 February 2021.
- ^ VAVEL.com (29 September 2021). "Northern Ireland Women move to a full-time international set-up". VAVEL. 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.
- ^ "Kenny Shiels: Northern Ireland women's manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 31 January 2023.
- ^ "Oxtoby names senior women's squad for Euro qualifiers". Irish Football Association. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
- ^ Fullerton, Gareth (7 October 2017). "Northern Ireland striker recognised for scoring fastest goal ever!". belfastlive. Retrieved 25 May 2019.