Northern Ireland World Cup Information

Northern Ireland at the World Cup

Northern Ireland's best World Cup performance was in their first appearance in the competition, the 1958 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals after beating Czechoslovakia 2-1 in the play-off. They were knocked out by France, losing 4-0. In the 1958 competition Northern Ireland became the smallest country to have qualified for the World Cup, a record that stood until Trinidad & Tobago qualified for the 2006 World Cup. Northern Ireland remains, however, the smallest country to have qualified for more than one World Cup, and the smallest country to have reached the World Cup quarter-finals.

Northern Ireland also qualified for the 1982 World Cup, again reaching the quarter-finals after topping the first stage group, having beaten Spain, the hosts 1-0. In 1982, Norman Whiteside became the youngest ever player in the World Cup finals, a record that still stands. In the 1986 World Cup, they reached the first round. Billy Bingham, a member of the 1958 squad, was manager for both of these tournaments. They have not qualified for any other World Cups.

Northern Ireland National Football Team Recent history

Lawrie Sanchez was appointed in January 2004 after a run of ten games without a goal under the previous manager Sammy McIlroy, which was a world record for any international team. That run ended after his first game in charge, a 1-4 defeat to Norway in a friendly in February 2004. The run of sixteen games without a win ended after his second game, a 1-0 victory in a friendly over Estonia, with a largely experimental side, in March 2004.

The Our Wee Country mural in east Belfast commemorating Northern Ireland beating England at home in 2005.On 7 September 2005 Northern Ireland beat England 1-0 in a 2006 World Cup Qualifier at Windsor Park. David Healy scored the winner in the 73rd minute. Almost a year to the day later, on 6 September 2006, Northern Ireland defeated Spain 3-2 in a qualifier for Euro 2008, with Healy scoring a hat-trick. Healy also scored all of Northern Ireland's goals in the 2-1 victory over Sweden in the same qualification group. Healy scored thirteen out of Northern Ireland's fifteen Euro 2008 qualification goals in seven matches, and was the leading goalscorer in the competition.