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Northern Ireland women's national football team

Northern Ireland
AssociationIrish Football Association (IFA)
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Head coachVacant
CaptainSimone Magill
Most capsJulie Nelson (125)
Top scorerRachel Furness (38)
Home stadiumWindsor Park
FIFA codeNIR
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 44 Steady (11 December 2025)[1]
Highest44 (December 2024 – June 2025)
Lowest85 (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
Appearances1 (first in 2035)
European Championship
Appearances1 (first in 2022)
Best resultGroup stage (2022)
Northern Ireland women's national football team in 2025

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 match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2025

21 February 2025 UEFA Nations League Poland  2–0  Northern Ireland Gdańsk, Poland
20:45
  • Kamczyk 17'
  • Achcińska 20'
 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)
  • McPartlan 15'
  • Magill 89', 90+2'
 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
  • Weir 8'
 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

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]

Caps and goals correct as of 28 October 2025, after the match against Iceland.[9]
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Jackie Burns (1997-03-06) 6 March 1997 64 0 Canadian Soccer Association Calgary Wild
12 1GK Maddy Harvey-Clifford (2002-05-08) 8 May 2002 5 0 Irish Football Association Crusaders
23 1GK Kate Smith (2007-05-10) 10 May 2007 1 0 Irish Football Association Lisburn Rangers
2 2DF Rebecca McKenna (2001-04-13) 13 April 2001 57 2 The Football Association Birmingham City
5 2DF Rebecca Holloway (1995-08-25) 25 August 1995 37 3 The Football Association Birmingham City
8 2DF Sarah McFadden (1987-05-17) 17 May 1987 95 7 The Football Association Durham
15 2DF Natalie Johnson (1993-11-12) 12 November 1993 8 0 The Football Association Nottingham Forest
16 2DF Abi Sweetlove (2006-04-09) 9 April 2006 3 0 Irish Football Association Linfield
22 2DF Toni-Leigh Finnegan (1999-12-04) 4 December 1999 2 0 Scottish Football Association Aberdeen
3 3MF Megan Bell (2001-04-17) 17 April 2001 40 3 Irish Football Association Linfield
4 3MF Louise McDaniel (2000-05-24) 24 May 2000 20 1 The Football Association Burnley
6 3MF Nadene Caldwell (1991-01-24) 24 January 1991 91 1 Irish Football Association Glentoran
7 3MF Aimee Kerr (2006-05-31) 31 May 2006 3 0 Irish Football Association Glentoran
13 3MF Joely Andrews (2002-04-20) 20 April 2002 33 2 Scottish Football Association Hearts
17 3MF Caragh Hamilton (1996-10-18) 18 October 1996 53 7 The Football Association Nottingham Forest
18 3MF Mia Moore (2007-09-14) 14 September 2007 1 0 Irish Football Association Glentoran
9 4FW Lauren Wade (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 77 14 Scottish Football Association Hearts Women
10 4FW Keri Halliday (2005-02-11) 11 February 2005 15 0 Scottish Football Association Hearts Women
11 4FW Danielle Maxwell (2002-04-09) 9 April 2002 23 3 The Football Association Burnley Women
14 4FW Emily Wilson (2001-08-26) 26 August 2001 33 1 Irish Football Association Glentoran Women
19 4FW Kascie Weir (2006-10-02) 2 October 2006 8 1 Irish Football Association Glentoran Women
20 4FW Casey Howe (2002-09-02) 2 September 2002 4 0 The Football Association Nottingham Forest Women
21 4FW Kerry Beattie (2002-09-27) 27 September 2002 12 3 Scottish Football Association Aberdeen Women (on loan from Hearts Women)
24 4FW Leyla McFarland (2003-07-14) 14 July 2003 1 0 The Football Association 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 (2004-06-18) 18 June 2004 1 0 England Liverpool Feds v.  Romania, 8 April 2025
GK Lauren Perry (2001-04-05) 5 April 2001 5 0 Scotland Montrose v.  Croatia, 29 October 2024
GK Abbie Smith (2008-08-15) 15 August 2008 0 0 England Manchester City v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
GK Kate Smith (2007-05-10) 10 May 2007 0 0 Northern Ireland Lisburn Rangers v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
DF Laura Rafferty INJ (1996-04-29) 29 April 1996 54 0 Scotland Rangers v.  Poland, 30 May 2025
DF Kelsie Burrows (2001-02-22) 22 February 2001 13 0 Northern Ireland Cliftonville v.  Romania, 8 April 2025
DF Demi Vance (1991-05-02) 2 May 1991 95 4 Northern Ireland Glentoran v.  Croatia, 29 October 2024
DF Rachel McLaren (2002-11-19) 19 November 2002 1 0 Northern Ireland Crusaders v.  Croatia, 29 October 2024
DF Rachel Dugdale (1996-11-19) 19 November 1996 43 0 England Blackburn Rovers v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
DF Ellie Mason (1996-02-16) 16 February 1996 13 0 England Charlton Athletic v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
MF Connie Scofield INJ (1999-05-26) 26 May 1999 7 0 England Sheffield United v.  Poland, 30 May 2025
MF Marissa Callaghan (1985-09-02) 2 September 1985 86 9 Northern Ireland Cliftonville v.  Croatia, 29 October 2024
MF Marissa Callaghan (1985-09-02) 2 September 1985 86 9 Northern Ireland Cliftonville v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
MF Brenna McPartlan (1999-09-01) 1 September 1999 16 1 England Burnley v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
MF Rachel Furness RET (1988-06-19) 19 June 1988 95 38 Retired v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
FW Simone Magill (captain) (1994-11-01) 1 November 1994 95 28 England Birmingham City v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
FW Caragh Hamilton (1996-10-18) 18 October 1996 51 7 England Nottingham Forest v.  Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3 June 2025
Notes
  • INJ = Withdrew due to injury
  • PRE = Preliminary squad / standby
  • RET = Retired from the national team


Records

As of 29 October 2025
Players in bold are still active with the national team.

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
China 1991 Did not qualify UEFA EURO 1991
Sweden 1995 Did not enter UEFA EURO 1995
United States 1999 Did not enter
United States 2003
China 2007 Did not qualify 6 2 1 3 7 11 −4
Germany 2011 10 3 2 5 8 16 −8
Canada 2015 10 1 2 7 3 19 −16
France 2019 8 1 0 7 4 27 −23
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 10 6 1 3 36 16 +20
Brazil 2027 To be determined To be determined
Costa RicaJamaicaMexicoUnited States 2031 To be determined To be determined
United Kingdom 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
EnglandItalyNorwaySweden 1984 Did not qualify 6 0 0 6 5 21 –
Norway 1987 6 0 0 6 2 35
West Germany 1989 Did not enter Did not enter
Denmark 1991 Did not qualify 4 0 0 4 1 21 –
Italy 1993 Did not enter Did not enter
EnglandGermanyNorwaySweden 1995
NorwaySweden 1997
Germany 2001
England 2005
Finland 2009 Did not qualify 11 2 1 8 11 28 –
Sweden 2013 10 3 2 5 12 15
Netherlands 2017 8 2 1 5 10 22
England 2022 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 11 10 6 2 2 21 18
Switzerland 2025 Did not qualify 10 4 2 4 10 15 Same position[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 Same position* 26th
2025 B 1 2nd 8 2 2 4 6 15 Same position* 24th
Total 16 5 4 7 18 29 26th and 24th
Rise Promoted at end of season
Same position No movement at end of season
Fall Relegated at end of season
* Participated in promotion/relegation play-offs

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 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

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  2. ^ "Women's National Teams Coefficient Overview" (PDF). UEFA. 24 February 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Alfie Wylie leaves role as Northern Ireland women's manager after 15 years to take new IFA job". Belfast Telegraph. 12 April 2019.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ "Kenny Shiels: Northern Ireland women's manager leaves role". BBC Sport. 31 January 2023.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "Oxtoby says squad in good spirits ahead of games against Iceland". Irish Football Association. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  9. ^ Northern Ireland Senior Women
  10. ^ 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.
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