Northern Ireland vs Slovakia Football Match Preview for Friday
On Friday night, a crucial World Cup qualifying match will take place at Windsor Park. Northern Ireland will face Slovakia, currently first and second respectively in Group A. Both teams have had contrasting results as they pursue a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
Northern Ireland’s Recent Form
Northern Ireland has played two qualifying matches so far. They achieved a significant 3-1 victory against Luxembourg but suffered a setback, losing 3-1 to Germany. This places them in need of a strong performance against Slovakia.
Slovakia’s Strong Start
Slovakia leads Group A, having won both of their opening matches. They shocked Germany with a 2-0 victory and secured a narrow 1-0 win over Luxembourg. These results give Slovakia the momentum heading into this match.
Head-to-Head Record
- Nov 2020: Northern Ireland 1-2 Slovakia (European Championship)
- Jun 2016: Slovakia 0-0 Northern Ireland (International Friendly)
- Sep 2009: Northern Ireland 0-2 Slovakia (FIFA World Cup)
- Sep 2008: Slovakia 2-1 Northern Ireland (FIFA World Cup)
- Mar 1998: Northern Ireland 1-0 Slovakia (International Friendly)
Recent Matches Overview
Northern Ireland’s Last Five Matches
- Sep 2025: Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland (FIFA World Cup)
- Sep 2025: Northern Ireland 3-1 Luxembourg (FIFA World Cup)
- Jun 2025: Northern Ireland 1-0 Iceland (International Friendly)
- Jun 2025: Denmark 2-1 Northern Ireland (International Friendly)
- Mar 2025: Sweden 5-1 Northern Ireland (International Friendly)
Slovakia’s Last Five Matches
- Sep 2025: Luxembourg 0-1 Slovakia (World Cup Qualifying)
- Sep 2025: Slovakia 2-0 Germany (World Cup Qualifying)
- Jun 2025: Israel 1-0 Slovakia (International Friendly)
- Jun 2025: Greece 4-1 Slovakia (International Friendly)
- Mar 2025: Slovenia 1-0 Slovakia (Nations League)
Match Predictions
This matchup is critical for Northern Ireland as they aim to improve their chances for World Cup qualification. The last meeting between these two teams ended with Slovakia eliminating Northern Ireland from Euro 2020. Northern Ireland aims to avoid a repeat and will be motivated to secure a win on home soil.
Given Slovakia’s recent performance against weaker teams and Northern Ireland’s fighting spirit, this match could swing either way. Analysts suggest Northern Ireland has a good chance of victory, making them an attractive bet at odds of 6/4.
