Northern Ireland: Michael O'Neill's side to face Switzerland and Iceland in friendlies
2025-02-04
Category: sports

Northern Ireland will face Switzerland and Iceland in friendlies later this year before the start of World Cup qualifying. Michael O'Neill's side will welcome Switzerland to Windsor Park on 21 March and will host Iceland on 10 June. Last month, the Irish FA announced a friendly against Sweden in Stockholm on 25 March. An away friendly in June ahead of the meeting with Iceland will be confirmed after the Nations League play-offs in March.Northern Ireland lost to Switzerland in the 2018 World Cup play-off and also met them in 2022 World Cup qualifying, drawing 0-0 in Belfast and losing 2-0 in Geneva. Northern Ireland had a strong 2024 as they topped their Nations League group.The standout result for O'Neill's youthful squad was a 5-0 win over Bulgaria in Belfast in October as Isaac Price scored a hat-trick.Conor Bradley scored the winning goal as NI collected an impressive friendly win in Scotland in March.Northern Ireland begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in Luxembourg in September.As well as the friendlies in March, Northern Ireland will also discover their final opponent in World Cup qualifying as Italy and Germany face off in the Nations League play-off.The winner of that tie will join Northern Ireland, Luxembourg and Slovakia in Group A.