Northern Ireland Men's Football Team

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Since Johnny Evans' 107th and final cap against Spain in June, O'Neill has had four different captains in seven games.

Daniel Ballard wore the armband in the summer friendly against Andorra, before Trai Hume was handed the honour for the opening two games of last year's Nations League campaign.

Conor Bradley led the team out for the first time in the October games against Bulgaria and Belarus before Shea Charles did likewise to see the campaign to a conclusion a month later.

During O'Neill's first spell in charge, Steven Davis was a long-serving skipper but the manager has signalled his happiness to continue to rotate in the hope that a group of leaders can be established.

With Ballard and Bradley both missing through injury this month, and the latter tipped as the most likely permanent captain should O'Neill name one, will we see another new face in the role for these games?

You can read Jonathan Bradley's full feature here

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After topping their Nations League group in November and having the fortune of being drawn in a four-team World Cup qualifying group, Northern Ireland will wait 10 months for a competitive game.

That gives Michael O'Neill plenty of time to plot his path to a first World Cup in 40 years with friendly matches coming up this week and in June - all of which you can watch live across BBC NI.

Ahead of those first qualifiers in September, O'Neill needs to look at his goal-scorers.

With Josh Magennins only on standby, the most prolific member of O'Neill's squad for these games is centre-back Paddy McNair with seven international goals.

Indeed, after Dion Charles pulled out through injury on Tuesday, the five forwards remaining in the panel have zero international goals between them, although two have yet to make their Northern Ireland debuts.

The Fifa transfers of former under-age internationals Ronan Hale and Jamie Donley, from Republic of Ireland and England respectively, offer two intriguing new options.

Former Cliftonville striker Hale hit the ground running in the Scottish Premiership after his summer switch to Ross County and, while more accustomed to a deeper role, Tottenham Hotspur's Donley has still found the net six times while on loan at Leyton Orient this year.

They are not the only players to have been among the goals this season, either.

Hale, Donley, Lee Bonis, Callum Marshall and Dale Talyor have netted more than 40 times combined for their clubs in 2025-26.

You can read Jonathan Bradley's full feature here

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Former Northern Ireland stars Steven Davis and Stuart Dallas will be inducted into the Malcolm Brodie Northern Ireland Hall of Fame in May.

The pair will receive the honour at the Northern Ireland Football Writers' Association's annual award ceremony on 4 May.

Davis, who played for Aston Villa and Rangers, won a record-breaking 140 caps for Northern Ireland and captained the team at the Euro 2016 finals.

"It's an incredible honour to be inducted into the Malcolm Brodie Hall of Fame alongside genuine greats such as George Best and Harry Gregg," said Davis.

"It was always a privilege to represent my country and the people of Northern Ireland. To receive an accolade like this is incredible."

Ex-Leeds United winger Dallas picked up 62 international caps for his country.

Dallas is no stranger to the NIFWA Awards - he was named Player and Young Player of the Year in 2011.

"I have fond memories of winning Player of the Year during my time with Crusaders," said Dallas.

"It's an honour to return to the awards all these years later, to join the Hall of Fame."

The Hall of Fame honour celebrates journalist Brodie's involvement in Northern Ireland football, which included covering 14 World Cup tournaments before his death in 2013 at the age of 86.

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Tottenham Hotspur forward Jamie Donley is set to be called up to the Northern Ireland senior squad for the first time.

The 20-year-old will be drafted into Michael O'Neill's squad for friendlies against Switzerland at home on Friday and against Sweden away on Tuesday, 25 March.

Donley was born in Antrim and has previously played for NI and England at youth level, captaining England Under-19s.

The process for his international transfer from England to Northern Ireland is under way with Fifa, but he can make his debut in these games as they are friendlies.

Donley is currently on loan at League One side Leyton Orient where he has scored seven goals in 30 games, while his stunning long-range effort against Manchester City in the FA Cup led to an own goal.

He made his Premier League debut in December 2023 for Spurs against City and has made three further appearances for the club.

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Conor Bradley will remain sidelined for a "few weeks" with a muscle injury, according to Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

The 21-year-old Northern Ireland defender was forced off during Liverpool's Premier League draw with Aston Villa on 19 February.

Having missed the league leaders' win over Manchester City on Sunday, Slot was unable to provide a timeline for Bradley's return.

"I cannot exactly tell how many [weeks he will miss]," Slot said ahead of Liverpool's game against Newcastle on Wednesday.

"It's clear he went off with a muscle injury and it's going to take a while before he's back."

Bradley's injury raises doubts that he will regain fitness in time for Northern Ireland's friendlies against Switzerland and Sweden on 21 and 25 March.

Bradley has won 23 caps for Northern Ireland and captained the team for the first time in October.

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Tanya Oxtoby says the Irish Football Association's development of a new National Training Centre at Galgorm would be 'massively helpful".

It was revealed on Monday that the centre will be located next to the Galgorm Resort, just outside Ballymena

It would include elite pitches and facilities for men's and women's senior and youth teams, with planning permission being sought.

"It's massively helpful - we speak about it all the time, trying to create a high-performing environment," said Oxtoby ahead of Tuesday night's Nations Cup game against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"You've seen it with nations who have built training centres for their national teams – feeling like its yours and knowing what you're getting every single time you turn up and ultimately I suppose get the best performance for your playing group.

"That's what we're about so for us it's exciting, we're really looking forward to it."

Northern Ireland captain Simone Magill believes the training centre will help develop players.

"It's definitely something that we'll welcome," said the Birmingham City striker.

"If I look at my experiences of being in elite environments and facilities it just shows the dedication that the Association has to make things better and have those elite facilities here in Northern Ireland.

"For young players growing up to have something like that is only going to help develop the game here. Other countries already have those things and we don't want to fall behind here."

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Former Northern Ireland manager Ian Baraclough has quit his role as director of football with National League side AFC Fylde.

The 54-year-old held the Northern Ireland post for two years before being sacked in October 2022.

Following a spell as Cheltenham Town assistant manager, he joined Fylde in November, with his brief stay coming to an end on Monday.

Fylde, who are managed by former England and Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips, beat Wealdstone 2-0 on Saturday but sit a lowly 22nd in the National League.

"It is with a heavy heart that I have taken the difficult decision to step away from the football club after our excellent home victory over Wealdstone on Saturday," said Baraclough.

"I walk away with the knowledge that the director of football role is one that I am totally comfortable with and the experience will stand me in good stead for the future.

"It has been an enjoyably challenging, busy few months and hopefully I am leaving the club in a better place. Looking forward to continuing my journey."

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Northern Ireland will face Sweden in March as Michael O'Neill's team prepare for the start of World Cup qualifying.

They will travel to Stockholm on 25 March to face the side currently 27th in the world rankings at the Strawberry Arena.

Plans for a second friendly match to be played before the trip to the Swedish capital are still to be confirmed by the Irish Football Association [IFA].

"The game will be a great opportunity to test ourselves against a higher ranked team similar to what we will face in World Cup 2026 qualification," O'Neill told the IFA website.

"We have made progress in the last 12 months, continuing to introduce younger players into the squad and developing a system and style of play."

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.

Sweden last faced Northern Ireland in a Euro 2008 qualifier when the sides drew 1-1. Earlier in the campaign David Healy scored a famous double in a 2-1 win at Windsor Park.

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.

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Ross County forward Ronan Hale is now eligible to play for Northern Ireland.

International clearance for the Belfast-born 26-year-old has come through from Fifa after a number of months of waiting for paperwork to be finalised.

Hale had previously represented the Republic of Ireland at under-19 and under-21 level.

The former Larne and Cliftonville forward, who has scored five times in 20 Scottish Premiership games for Ross County this season, is now available to be selected by Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill.

Hale, who started his career at Birmingham City, has also had spells will Derry City, Crusaders and St Patrick's Athletic.

He scored two goals in last season's Irish Cup final to help Cliftonville to their first truimph in the competition since 1979.

He then moved to Scottish Premiership side Ross County for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal.