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 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.
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]
The following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Lose Fixture
23 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 |
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:
Most caps
| Most goals
|
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]
FIFA 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 |
UEFA 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 |
UEFA 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 |
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents the Republic of Ireland in men's international football. It is governed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
The Wales national men’s football team represents Wales in men's international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the governing body for football in Wales. They have been a member of FIFA since 1946 and a member of UEFA since 1954.
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team plays most of its home matches at the Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg City.
The Finland national football team represents Finland in men's international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Association of Finland, the governing body for football in Finland, which was founded in 1907. The team has been a member of FIFA since 1908 and a UEFA member since 1957.
The Czechoslovakia national football team represented Czechoslovakia in men's international football from 1919 to 1993. The team was controlled by the Czechoslovak Football Association, and the team qualified for eight World Cups and three European Championships. It had two runner-up finishes in World Cups, in 1934 and 1962, and won the European Championship in the 1976 tournament.
The Moldova national football team represents Moldova in men's international football and is administered by the Moldovan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chișinău and their head coach is Serghei Cleșcenco. Shortly before the break-up of the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Georgia on 2 July 1991.
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team represents the Republic of Ireland in competitions such as the FIFA Women's World Cup and the UEFA Women's Championship. The team played in their first World Cup at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. It has taken part in invitational tournaments such as the Algarve Cup, the Istria Cup, the Cyprus Cup and Pinatar Cup. It is organised by the Women's Football Association of Ireland.
The Wales national women's football team represents Wales in international football. It is controlled by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), the governing body for football in Wales and the third-oldest national football association in the world, founded in 1876.
The Portugal women's national football team represents Portugal in international women's football competition. The team is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) and competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer Olympics, and the Algarve Cup.
The Israel women's national football team represents Israel in international women's football. The Israel women's national football team was established in 1997. Women's football in Israel was developed as an upside down pyramid by first opening the national team and then after 2 years opening the first women's football league in Israel. Women's Football in Israel is struggling to develop because it is lacking investment.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina women's national football team represents Bosnia and Herzegovina in international football and is controlled by the Football Association of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Georgia women's national football team represents Georgia in international football. Georgia took part in the world cup qualification group 7 for the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, but withdrew after two matches, against Yugoslavia (0–11) and Turkey (0–1). After this, Georgia did not take part in qualification until the European Championships in 2009. Then, Georgia were placed in a group with Turkey, Northern Ireland and Croatia. Georgia finished last, with no points.
Kenneth Shiels is a Northern Irish football manager and former player who is currently manager of NIFL Premier Intermediate side Moyola Park.
Julie Elizabeth Nelson is an association football defender from Northern Ireland who plays for Crusaders Strikers. She represents Northern Ireland nationally as the record cap player.
Simone Magill is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays forward for Northern Ireland and Birmingham City in the Women’s Championship
The Gibraltar national football team represents Gibraltar in football and is controlled by the Gibraltar Football Association (GFA), the local governing body of that sport. It competes as a member of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), which encompasses the countries of Europe. Organised football has been played in the country since the 19th century. Gibraltar first applied for UEFA membership in 1997 which was rejected, as UEFA would only allow membership for applicants recognised as sovereign states by the United Nations. In October 2012, Gibraltar reapplied for membership and it was granted in March 2013.
Rebecca Rayne Holloway is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Birmingham City W.F.C. and the Northern Ireland national team.
Joely Andrews is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Heart of Midlothian and the Northern Ireland women's national team.
Abbie Magee is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for Cliftonville and the Northern Ireland national team.
Shannon Turner became a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion in 2021 after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers. Born in England, she has represented Northern Ireland at under-19 level. She was on the Northern Ireland squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2022.