The Northern Ireland women's national football team represents Northern Ireland in international women's football. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, FIFA statutes permit Northern Ireland as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations to maintain its own national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.
| Association | Irish Football Association (IFA) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Tanya Oxtoby | ||
| Captain | Marissa Callaghan | ||
| Most caps | Julie Nelson (125) | ||
| Top scorer | Rachel Furness (38) | ||
| FIFA code | NIR | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 46  (15 March 2024) | ||
| Highest | 45 (March – June 2023) | ||
| Lowest | 85 (June 2005) | ||
| First international | |||
 Republic of Ireland 4–1 Northern Ireland  (Dublin, Republic of Ireland; 30 June 1973) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
 North Macedonia 0–11 Northern Ireland (Skopje, North Macedonia; 25 November 2021) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Scotland 11–1 Northern Ireland (Clydebank, Scotland, 23 November 1974)  England 10–0 Northern Ireland (Blackburn, England, 16 March 1986) | |||
| European Championship | |||
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2022) | ||
| Best result | Group stage (2022) | ||
The team were the lowest UEFA-ranked team (27th) to qualify for the European Championships Finals in England in 2022.
In September 2021 it was announced that the senior women's team would be adopting a full-time professional set up ahead of Euro 2022.
Results and fixtures
The following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2023
| 14 July Friendly | Scotland | 3–0 | Northern Ireland | Dundee, Scotland |
| 19:35 UTC+1 | Source | Stadium: Kilmac Stadium |
| 18 July Friendly | Czech Republic | 0–2 | Northern Ireland | Opava, Czech Republic |
| 19:30 UTC+2 | Source | Stadium: Stadion v Městských sadech Attendance: 778 Referee: Michalina Diakow (Poland) |
| 23 September UEFA Women's Nations League | Republic of Ireland | 3–0 | Northern Ireland | Dublin, Republic of Ireland |
| 13:00 UTC+1 | Source | Stadium: Aviva Stadium Referee: Hristiyana Guteva (Bulgaria) |
| 26 September UEFA Women's Nations League | Northern Ireland | 1–0 | Albania | Belfast |
| --:-- | Wade 57' | Source | Stadium: Seaview Stadium Referee: Zulema González (Spain) |
| 27 October UEFA Women's Nations League | Hungary | 3–2 | Northern Ireland | Győr, Hungary |
| --:-- 18:15 | Source | Stadium: Ménfői úti Stadion Attendance: 332 Referee: Jurgita Mačikunytė (Lithuania) |
| 31 October UEFA Women's Nations League | Northern Ireland | 1–1 | Hungary | Belfast |
| 20:00 (19:00 GMT) |
| Source |
| Stadium: Seaview Stadium Attendance: 948 Referee: Jelena Pejković (Croatia) |
| 1 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Albania | 0–4 | Northern Ireland | Tirana, Albania |
| Report | Stadium: Arena Kombëtare |
| 5 December 2023–24 UEFA Nations League | Northern Ireland | 1–6 | Republic of Ireland | Belfast |
| Report | Stadium: Windsor Park |
2024
| 23 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League promotion/relegation matches | Montenegro | 0–2 | Northern Ireland | Podgorica |
| 14:00 | Report | Stadium: Podgorica City Stadium |
| 27 February 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League promotion/relegation matches | Northern Ireland | 1–1 (3–1 agg.) | Montenegro | Belfast |
| 20:00 (19:00 GMT) | Report | Stadium: Windsor Park | ||
| Note: Northern Ireland won 3–1 on aggregate, and therefore both teams remained in their respective leagues. | ||||
| 5 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Northern Ireland | 0–0 | Malta | Belfast |
| Report | Stadium: Windsor Park Referee: Maria Marotta (Italy) |
| 9 April Euro 2025 qualifying | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–3 | Northern Ireland | Zenica |
| Report | Stadium: Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre Referee: Désirée Grundbacher (Switzerland) |
Coaching staff
Manager history
- Alfie Wylie (2004–2019)
- Kenny Shiels (2019–2023)
- Tanya Oxtoby (2023–)
Players
Current squad
- The following players are named in the squad for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying matches against Malta and Bosnia and Herzegovina on 5 and 9 April 2024 respectively.
Caps and goals updated as of 5 December 2023 after the match against Republic of Ireland.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Lauren Perry | 5 April 2001 | 5 | 0 | Montrose | |
| GK | Maddy Harvey-Clifford | 6 May 2002 | 2 | 0 | Crusaders | |
| GK | Jackie Burns | Reading Women | ||||
| DF | Rebecca Holloway | 25 August 1995 | 22 | 3 | Birmingham City | |
| DF | Rebecca McKenna | 13 April 2001 | 33 | 1 | Charlton Athletic | |
| DF | Laura Rafferty | 29 April 1996 | 38 | 0 | Southampton | |
| DF | Demi Vance | 2 May 1991 | 90 | 4 | Glentoran | |
| 22 | DF | Abbie Magee | 15 November 2000 | 12 | 0 | Cliftonville |
| DF | Rachel Dugdale | 19 November 1996 | 24 | 0 | Reading | |
| 13 | DF | Rachel McLaren | 19 November 2002 | 1 | 0 | Crusaders |
| MF | Joely Andrews | 20 April 2002 | 17 | 1 | Glentoran | |
| MF | Nadene Caldwell | 24 January 1991 | 78 | 2 | Glentoran | |
| MF | Chloe McCarron | 22 December 1997 | 35 | 1 | Glentoran | |
| MF | Megan Bell | 17 April 2001 | 25 | 2 | Hearts | |
| MF | Marissa Callaghan (captain) | 2 September 1985 | 86 | 9 | Cliftonville | |
| MF | Brenna McPartlan | Burnley Women | ||||
| FW | Kerry Beattie | 27 September 2002 | 10 | 3 | Glentoran | |
| FW | Simone Magill | 1 November 1994 | 78 | 24 | Aston Villa | |
| FW | Lauren Wade | 22 November 1993 | 54 | 9 | Reading | |
| FW | Keri Halliday | 11 February 2005 | 1 | 0 | Linfield | |
| FW | Caragh Hamilton | 18 October 1996 | 38 | 6 | Lewes | |
| FW | Casey Howe | Athlone Town Ladies | ||||
Recent call-ups
- The following players have been named to a squad in the past 12 months.
- This list may be incomplete.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Shannon Turner | 8 September 1997 | 6 | 0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
| GK | Rachael Norney | 18 June 2004 | 1 | 0 | Liverpool Feds | v. Republic of Ireland, 5 December 2023 |
| GK | Lilie Woods | 29 August 2003 | 1 | 0 | Mid-Ulster | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 |
| DF | Kelsie Burrows | 22 February 2001 | 13 | 0 | Cliftonville | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
| DF | Ellie Mason | 16 February 1996 | 4 | 0 | Birmingham City | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
| DF | Sarah McFadden | 23 May 1987 | 104 | 9 | Durham | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
| MF | Rachel Furness | 19 June 1988 | 95 | 38 | Bristol City | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 INJ |
| FW | Danielle Maxwell | 9 April 2002 | 9 | 2 | Blackburn Rovers | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
| FW | Emily Wilson | 26 August 2001 | 21 | 1 | Glentoran | v. Montenegro, 27 February 2024 |
| FW | Caitlin McGuinness | 30 August 2002 | 18 | 1 | Cliftonville | v. Hungary, 31 October 2023 |
| FW | Kirsty McGuinness | 4 November 1994 | 57 | 14 | Cliftonville | v. Albania, 26 September 2023 |
Notes:
- INJ Withdrew due to injury.
- WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury or medical issue
Records
- Statistics correct as of 5 December 2023.
- Active players in bold.
Most goals
| Rank | Name | Career | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rachel Furness | 2005– | 95 | 38 |
| 2 | Simone Magill | 2010– | 78 | 24 |
| 3 | Kirsty McGuinness | 2010– | 57 | 14 |
| 4 | Marissa Callaghan | 2010– | 86 | 9 |
| Ashley Hutton | 2005– | 114 | ||
| Sarah McFadden | 2005– | 104 | ||
| Julie Nelson | 2004– | 126 | ||
| Lauren Wade | 2015– | 54 | ||
| 9 | Caragh Hamilton | 2012– | 38 | 6 |
| 10 | Demi Vance | 2009– | 90 | 4 |
Simone Magill holds the world record for the fastest international goal in women's football. Previously, US forward Alex Morgan had held the record at twelve seconds. Magill achieved an eleven-second goal against Georgia at the start of a European Qualifying match on 3 June 2016. The goal marks the fastest ever international goal by any national Northern Irish team – male or female.
Competitive record
FIFA Women's World Cup
| FIFA Women's World Cup record | Qualification record | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD | |||
| 1991 | Did not qualify | UEFA EURO 1991 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1995 | Did not enter | UEFA EURO 1995 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1999 | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 11 | −4 | ||||||||||
| 2011 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 16 | −8 | |||||||||||
| 2015 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 19 | −16 | |||||||||||
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 27 | −23 | |||||||||||
| 2023 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 36 | 16 | +20 | |||||||||||
| 2027 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 0/10 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 44 | 13 | 11 | 23 | 58 | 89 | −31 | |||
- *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
UEFA Women's Championship
| UEFA Women's Championship record | Qualifying record | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | |
| 1984 | Did not qualify | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 21 | |||||||
| 1987 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 35 | ||||||||
| 1989 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||
| 1991 | Did not qualify | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 21 | |||||||
| 1993 | Did not enter | Did not enter | ||||||||||||
| 1995 | ||||||||||||||
| 1997 | ||||||||||||||
| 2001 | ||||||||||||||
| 2005 | ||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Did not qualify | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 28 | |||||||
| 2013 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 15 | ||||||||
| 2017 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 22 | ||||||||
| 2022 | Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 18 | |
| 2025 | To be determined | To be determined | ||||||||||||
| Total | 1/13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 55 | 13 | 6 | 36 | 62 | 160 | |
- *Draws include knockout matches decided by penalty kicks.