Stormont backs bid for Women's World Cup matches in Belfast
Spain are the reigning champions of the Women's World Cup, having beaten England 1-0 in 2023
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Plans to stage Women's World Cup football matches in Belfast in 2035 have received the backing of Stormont ministers.
Even though the United Kingdom is in line to host the tournament, there had been a question mark over Northern Ireland's involvement.
Northern Ireland missed out on staging games in the men's Euro 2028 tournament, raising fears the same could happen for another major sporting event.
The capacity of Windsor Park football stadium in Belfast will have to be increased in the next 10 years in order to host matches in the Women's World Cup, the Irish Football Association (IFA) have said.
It currently has 18,500 seats but is likely to require at least 20,000 before the tournament in 2035.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill confirmed on Thursday afternoon that the Stormont executive has agreed "in principle" to be part of the bid to host matches.
"A really huge opportunity in terms of investment in women in sport and for this opportunity that will come in 10 years' time, so a huge advancement I think in terms of sport more generally and clearly we want to see more investment in all sport here," she added.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said the funding required was "likely to be in the tens of millions" and would involve an upgrade to Windsor Park in Belfast.
But speaking to reporters at Stormont, she said that "all of that will have to be worked out".
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) minister said that "critical to this is we need to start early".
Plans for Northern Ireland to host matches during Euro 2028 fell through after the government said it would not provide funding to redevelop Casement Park in time for the tournament.
IFA chief executive Patrick Nelson told BBC News NI that the organisers of the world cup, Fifa, has made it clear Windsor Park needs a larger capacity.
"Fifa would like it to be a little bit bigger than it is, and so we will put plans together to try and make that happen. There's ten years between now and then so there's plenty of time to get everything in shape," he said.
"What a brilliant celebration of football it will be across these islands to bring the Women's World Cup here to Belfast."
Asked if 20,000 would be the target capacity, he said "perhaps a tiny bit more".
Plans to rebuild the Gaelic sports stadium at nearby Casement Park in west Belfast have been stalled for more than a decade.
Planning permission was granted five years ago for a 34,500-capacity stadium but the site remains derelict.
Supporters of the Casement Park project will be watching closely what happens at Windsor Park, which was recently renamed the Clearer Twist National Stadium.
Patrick Nelson (left) pictured at a previous event with the First and Deputy First Ministers Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly and IFA President Conrad Kirkwood
'Seize the moment'
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The IFA said political support is essential and urged ministers "to seize this moment, for the good of the game, and for the future of women's sport in Northern Ireland".
Belfast recently missed out on the chance to host matches in Euro 2028 due to the lack of a 30,000-seater stadium in the city.
However, the women's World Cup does not require as big a capacity and the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park, which currently has 18,500 seats, could be used if it was partially upgraded.
'It's an absolute open goal'
It is thought Belfast could host up to six matches at the 2035 tournament if the bid is successful
It was announced in April that the UK is the sole "valid" bidder for the tournament in 2035.
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland submitted a joint expression of interest to hold the World Cup across the home nations.
At the time, Mr Nelson said it was a "brilliant opportunity" but there was "still a lot of hard work to do with our partners in bringing it all together".
If all goes according to plan, Belfast could host up to six matches at the tournament in 2035.
The majority of matches will be in England, with Scotland and Wales having a smaller share.
Although FIFA has yet to formally confirm the UK as host for the World Cup, it is expected to do so in April next year.
Casement Park funding
The proposed redeveloped Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stadium at Casement Park in Belfast has suffered years of setbacks and increasing construction costs – leaving a large funding shortfall which has yet to be resolved.
The government said the build costs had risen to potentially over £400m, but the GAA disputed this estimate.
On Thursday, O'Neill said there was a "cocktail of funding" from different sources for Casement including contributions from the Stormont executive, as well as the UK and Irish governments.
The Sinn Féin minister said it remained a "very doable project" and insisted it "will be built".
Little-Pengelly said that costs for Casement have risen "significantly".
"That money is not there for that, and that's the reality," she said.
"And while there has been a cocktail of funding, there is still a very significant shortfall of well in excess of £100m."