Northern Ireland women's national football team
| Association | Irish Football Association (IFA) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Vacant | ||
| Captain | Simone Magill | ||
| Most caps | Julie Nelson (125) | ||
| Top scorer | Rachel Furness (38) | ||
| FIFA code | NIR | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 44 (11 December 2025)[1] | ||
| Highest | 44 (December 2024 – June 2025) | ||
| 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) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2035) | ||
| 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)[2] to qualify for the European Championships Finals in England in 2022. They are set to participate in the World Cup for the first time in 2035 as they automatically qualified as co-host along with other three countries in the United Kingdom.
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.[3]
Results and fixtures
The 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
| 29 November Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs | Northern Ireland | 0–4 | Norway | Larne, Northern Ireland |
| 19:00 UTC+0 | Report |
|
Stadium: Inver Park Attendance: 1,866 Referee: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia) |
| 3 December Euro 2025 qualifying play-offs | Norway | 3–0 (7–0 agg.) | Northern Ireland | Oslo, Norway |
| 18:00 UTC+1 |
|
Report | Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion Attendance: 3,155 Referee: Jelena Cvetković (Serbia) | |
| Note: Norway won 7–0 on aggregate, and qualified for the finals. | ||||
2025
| 21 February 2025 UEFA Nations League | Poland | 2–0 | Northern Ireland | Gdańsk, Poland |
| 20:45 | Report | Stadium: Gdańsk Stadium Attendance: 2,700 Referee: Emanuela Rusta (Albania) |
| 25 February 2025 UEFA Nations League | Northern Ireland | 3–2 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Larne, Northern Ireland |
| 20:00 (19:00 GMT) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Inver Park Attendance: 1,303 Referee: Caroline Lanssens (Belgium) |
| 4 April 2025 UEFA Nations League | Romania | 1–1 | Northern Ireland | Bucharest, Romania |
| 18:00 (19:00 EEST) |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Stadionul Arcul de Triumf Attendance: 1,485 Referee: Sandra Bastos (Portugal) |
| 8 April 2025 UEFA Nations League | Northern Ireland | 1–0 | Romania | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| 18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Windsor Park Attendance: 2,380 Referee: Shona Shukrula (Netherlands) |
| 30 May 2025 UEFA Nations League | Northern Ireland | 0–4 | Poland | Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Seaview Attendance: 2,482 Referee: Minka Vekkeli (Finland) |
| 3 June 2025 UEFA Nations League | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–1 | Northern Ireland | Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| 19:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre Attendance: 300 Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria) |
| 24 October 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League play-off | Northern Ireland | 0–2 | Iceland | Northern Ireland |
| 29 October 2025 UEFA Women's Nations League play-off | Iceland | 3–0 (5–0 agg.) | Northern Ireland | Iceland |
2026
| 3 March 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | Switzerland | v | Northern Ireland | Switzerland |
| 7 March 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | Northern Ireland | v | Turkey | Northern Ireland |
| 14 April 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | Northern Ireland | v | Malta | Northern Ireland |
| 18 April 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | Malta | v | Northern Ireland | Malta |
| 5 June 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | Turkey | v | Northern Ireland | Turkey |
| 9 June 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | Northern Ireland | v | Switzerland | Northern Ireland |
Coaching staff
Manager history
- Alfie Wylie (2004–2019)[4]
- Kenny Shiels (2019–2023)[5][6]
- Tanya Oxtoby (2023–2025)[7]
Players
Current squad
The following players were named to the squad for the UEFA Women's Nations League play-off matches against Iceland on 24 and 28 October 2025.[8]
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Jackie Burns | 6 March 1997 | 64 | 0 | Calgary Wild |
| 12 | GK | Maddy Harvey-Clifford | 8 May 2002 | 5 | 0 | Crusaders |
| 23 | GK | Kate Smith | 10 May 2007 | 1 | 0 | Lisburn Rangers |
| 2 | DF | Rebecca McKenna | 13 April 2001 | 57 | 2 | Birmingham City |
| 5 | DF | Rebecca Holloway | 25 August 1995 | 37 | 3 | Birmingham City |
| 8 | DF | Sarah McFadden | 17 May 1987 | 95 | 7 | Durham |
| 15 | DF | Natalie Johnson | 12 November 1993 | 8 | 0 | Nottingham Forest |
| 16 | DF | Abi Sweetlove | 9 April 2006 | 3 | 0 | Linfield |
| 22 | DF | Toni-Leigh Finnegan | 4 December 1999 | 2 | 0 | Aberdeen |
| 3 | MF | Megan Bell | 17 April 2001 | 40 | 3 | Linfield |
| 4 | MF | Louise McDaniel | 24 May 2000 | 20 | 1 | Burnley |
| 6 | MF | Nadene Caldwell | 24 January 1991 | 91 | 1 | Glentoran |
| 7 | MF | Aimee Kerr | 31 May 2006 | 3 | 0 | Glentoran |
| 13 | MF | Joely Andrews | 20 April 2002 | 33 | 2 | Hearts |
| 17 | MF | Caragh Hamilton | 18 October 1996 | 53 | 7 | Nottingham Forest |
| 18 | MF | Mia Moore | 14 September 2007 | 1 | 0 | Glentoran |
| 9 | FW | Lauren Wade | 22 November 1993 | 77 | 14 | Hearts Women |
| 10 | FW | Keri Halliday | 11 February 2005 | 15 | 0 | Hearts Women |
| 11 | FW | Danielle Maxwell | 9 April 2002 | 23 | 3 | Burnley Women |
| 14 | FW | Emily Wilson | 26 August 2001 | 33 | 1 | Glentoran Women |
| 19 | FW | Kascie Weir | 2 October 2006 | 8 | 1 | Glentoran Women |
| 20 | FW | Casey Howe | 2 September 2002 | 4 | 0 | Nottingham Forest Women |
| 21 | FW | Kerry Beattie | 27 September 2002 | 12 | 3 | Aberdeen Women (on loan from Hearts Women) |
| 24 | FW | Leyla McFarland | 14 July 2003 | 1 | 0 | Durham Women |
Recent call-ups
The following players have also been called up to the squad within the past 12 months.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Rachael Norney | 18 June 2004 | 1 | 0 | Liverpool Feds | v. Romania, 8 April 2025 |
| GK | Lauren Perry | 5 April 2001 | 5 | 0 | Montrose | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
| GK | Abbie Smith | 15 August 2008 | 0 | 0 | Manchester City | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| GK | Kate Smith | 10 May 2007 | 0 | 0 | Lisburn Rangers | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| DF | Laura Rafferty INJ | 29 April 1996 | 54 | 0 | Rangers | v. Poland, 30 May 2025 |
| DF | Kelsie Burrows | 22 February 2001 | 13 | 0 | Cliftonville | v. Romania, 8 April 2025 |
| DF | Demi Vance | 2 May 1991 | 95 | 4 | Glentoran | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
| DF | Rachel McLaren | 19 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | Crusaders | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
| DF | Rachel Dugdale | 19 November 1996 | 43 | 0 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| DF | Ellie Mason | 16 February 1996 | 13 | 0 | Charlton Athletic | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| MF | Connie Scofield INJ | 26 May 1999 | 7 | 0 | Sheffield United | v. Poland, 30 May 2025 |
| MF | Marissa Callaghan | 2 September 1985 | 86 | 9 | Cliftonville | v. Croatia, 29 October 2024 |
| MF | Marissa Callaghan | 2 September 1985 | 86 | 9 | Cliftonville | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| MF | Brenna McPartlan | 1 September 1999 | 16 | 1 | Burnley | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| MF | Rachel Furness RET | 19 June 1988 | 95 | 38 | Retired | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| FW | Simone Magill (captain) | 1 November 1994 | 95 | 28 | Birmingham City | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| FW | Caragh Hamilton | 18 October 1996 | 51 | 7 | Nottingham Forest | v. Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025 |
| ||||||
Records
- Statistics correct as of 5 December 2023.
- Active players in bold.
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.[10]
Competitive record
FIFA Women's World Cup
| 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 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2031 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
| 2035 | Qualified | Qualified as co-host | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 1/12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 44 | 13 | 11 | 23 | 58 | 89 | −31 | |||
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's Championship
| 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 | ||
- *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's Nations League
| 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 | 2nd | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | * | 24th | |
| Total | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 29 | 26th and 24th | |||||
| Promoted at end of season | |
| No movement at end of season | |
| Relegated at end of season | |
| * | Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs |
See also
- Northern Ireland women's national under-19 football team
- Northern Ireland women's national under-17 football team
- Northern Ireland national football team, the men's team
- Republic of Ireland women's national football team
Notes
- ^ 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
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Women's National Teams Coefficient Overview" (PDF). UEFA. 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Oxtoby says squad in good spirits ahead of games against Iceland". Irish Football Association. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ Northern Ireland Senior Women
- ^ 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.