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Northern Ireland World Cup 2026 squad: Michael O'Neill's latest selection ahead of the World Cup qualifying play-offs

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The Northern Ireland World Cup 2026 squad is shaping up, with the nation still dreaming of a place at in North America

Northern Ireland World Cup 2026 squad: Trai Hume of Northern Ireland looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Northern Ireland and Germany at Windsor Park on October 13, 2025 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Trai Hume of Northern Ireland (Image credit: Getty Images)
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The Northern Ireland World Cup 2026 squad is shaping up, with the March international break almost here.

Michael O'Neill's Green and White Army are two matches away from World Cup 2026 thanks to their performance in the UEFA Nations League and O'Neill has named a squad he believes can shock Italy in the qualifying play-offs.

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Northern Ireland finished third in World Cup qualifying Group A but had already secured a play-off place by topping their group above Bulgaria, Belarus and Luxembourg in the latest Nations League campaign.

They encountered Luxembourg again in World Cup qualifying but Germany and Slovakia proved sterner opposition. Consequently, they're off to Bergamo to try and upset the Italians with Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina lying in wait for a World Cup finals berth.

Northern Ireland must qualify the hard way, not only as underdogs twice but away from home in both the semi-final and the final. O'Neill is without his injured captain to boot.

There's plenty of experience in the squad regardless: eight of the 28 players called up in March have 30 caps or more.

Squad

Northern Ireland World Cup 2026 squad: The March selection

  • GK: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool)
  • GK: Conor Hazard (Plymouth Argyle)
  • GK: Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday)
  • GK: Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle)
  • DF: Terry Devlin (Portsmouth)
  • DF: Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers)
  • DF: Dan Ballard (Sunderland)
  • DF: Trai Hume (Sunderland)
  • DF: Ruairi McConville (Norwich City)
  • DF: Paddy McNair (Hull City)
  • DF: Brodie Spencer (Oxford United)
  • DF: Ciaron Brown (Oxford United)
  • MF: George Saville (Luton Town)
  • MF: Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City)
  • MF: Jamie Donley (Oxford United)
  • MF: Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion)
  • MF: Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace)
  • MF: Ali McCann (Preston North End)
  • MF: Shea Charles (Southampton)
  • MF: Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock)
  • MF: Jamie McDonnell (Oxford United)
  • MF: Patrick Kelly (Barnsley)
  • MF: Kieran Morrison (Liverpool)
  • FW: Callum Marshall (Bochum)
  • FW: Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town)
  • FW: Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers)
  • FW: Jamie Reid (Stevenage)
  • FW: Josh Magennis (Exeter City)

Fixtures and results

Fixtures:

  • March 26, 2026: Italy vs Northern Ireland, New Balance Arena, Bergamo, Italy

Recent results:

  • November 17, 2025: Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg, Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • November 14: Slovakia 1-0 Northern Ireland, Kosicka futbalova arena, Kosice
  • October 13: Northern Ireland 0-1 Germany, Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • October 10: Northern Ireland 2-0 Slovakia, Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland
  • September 7: Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland, RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany
  • September 4: Luxembourg 1-3 Northern Ireland, Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City

Manager

Who is Northern Ireland's manager?

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Manager Michael O'Neill of Blackburn Rovers during the Sky Bet Championship match between Millwall and Blackburn Rovers at The Den on March 14, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill (Image credit: Getty Images)

56-year-old Michael O'Neill is in the unusual position of pursuing a place at World Cup 2026 while embroiled in a relegation battle at club level at the very same time.

O'Neill has been back at the Northern Ireland helm since 2022 and was appointed as the interim successor to Valerien Ismael in the manager's role at Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers in February.

Any combination of outcomes is possible for O'Neill. Both Northern Ireland and Blackburn can succeed or fail with major implications collectively and for the manager himself.

Northern Ireland's Star Player

Who is Northern Ireland's star player?

Antrim , United Kingdom - 10 October 2025; Conor Bradley of Northern Ireland during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Northern Ireland and Slovakia at Clearer Twist National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast. (Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Conor Bradley of Northern Ireland (Image credit: Getty Images)

Northern Ireland's leading light won't be travelling to Italy as part of the squad this month. Liverpool's Conor Bradley is the GAWA captain and a Premier League winner at 22 years of age but suffered a serious injury early this year.

Reports vary when it comes to Bradley's exact prognosis but a World Cup appearance is unlikely, paving the way for Sunderland's Trai Hume to build on his role as stand-in captain and one of O'Neill's trusted lieutenants.

If Northern Ireland qualify, Hume will join the ranks for 30+ cappers before the first group game. With Black Cats teammate Dan Ballard alongside him, Hume is capable of stepping into Bradley's shoes.

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Chris Nee
Chris Nee

Chris is a Warwickshire-based freelance writer, Editor-in-Chief of AVillaFan.com, author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Northern Premier League Midlands Division club Coventry Sphinx.

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