FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)---Northern Ireland VS Slovakia Prediction

Northern Ireland VS Slovakia    Livescore / H2H stats and Live Streaming
Time:11-10-2025 02:45 Saturday
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Match Preview:
Having started their bid to reach next year's finals with a 3-1 win over Luxembourg, Northern Ireland were then beaten by the same scoreline in Germany at the start of last month. Netting his 10th international goal, Isaac Price stunned the home fans in Frankfurt by scoring an equaliser, before Die Nationalelf fought back with quickfire strikes from Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz.

The 2026 World Cup will mark 40 years since Northern Ireland last featured at FIFA's top tournament - and it will be a decade on from their Euro 2016 appearance under Michael O'Neill - yet expectation has grown since he returned. O'Neill's improving young squad may have left Germany empty-handed, but they have won their last four competitive games at Windsor Park without conceding - albeit against relatively modest opposition.

Now faced with a home double-header against Group A's top two seeds, they must pick up at least one point on Friday evening - otherwise, claiming a playoff place may prove beyond them. The last time Slovakia arrived in Northern Ireland, almost five years ago, they ended Northern Ireland's dreams of reaching Euro 2020; so the Green and White Army now hope to avoid a similar outcome.

Since losing the nations' first-ever contest, Slovakia have gone on to win three times and draw once against Friday's hosts. Most memorably - and most recently - they celebrated an extra-time away victory in November 2020, pipping Northern Ireland to a place at the Euros.

This time around, the Slovaks are on track for direct entry to next summer's global gathering, having won both of their matches last month. After pulling off a shock in their Group A opener - inflicting Germany's fourth World Cup qualifying defeat of all time by winning 2-0 in Bratislava - Francesco Calzona's side then nearly slipped up against little Luxembourg.

Only a 90th-minute strike from substitute Tomas Rigo spared their blushes, but an unconvincing success still took them onto a maximum six points.

Despite making a sub-par start to 2025, Slovakia have now recorded four clean sheets - and conceded just once - in their last five competitive fixtures, so long-serving coach Calzona is targeting top spot and automatic qualification.

Match Prediction:
While Northern Ireland have come a long way since these nations last met, Slovakia represent a step up in class - and one that may be just too big to bridge. The hosts' young team are set to suffer back-to-back losses in World Cup qualifying, as the Falcons continue to fly high in Group A.