How to follow Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifiers
Northern Ireland's Conor Bradley, Slovakia's Milan Skriniar and Serge Gnabry of Germany
- Published
It has been an interesting start to life in Group A on the road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup with plenty up for grabs as we move towards the half-way stage of the qualifying campaign.
Northern Ireland kicked things off with an important 3-1 win away in Luxembourg before a defeat by Germany by the same scoreline in Cologne.
Unexpectedly perhaps the group is somewhat wide open thanks to Slovakia's opening day win over Germany, leaving Michael O'Neill's side sitting in second spot with four rounds of fixtures remaining.
That sets up a tasty double header for O'Neill's team, with Slovakia and Germany heading to Belfast.
How it stands in Group A
What are the next fixtures?
Northern Ireland v Slovakia (19:45 BST)
Friday, 10 October
Windsor Park, Belfast
Northern Ireland v Germany (19:45 BST)
Monday, 13 October
Windsor Park, Belfast
How can I watch Northern Ireland's matches?
Both of the games will be live across the BBC.
Friday's match between Northern Ireland and Slovakia will be live on BBC Two across the UK, BBC One NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
You will also be able to listen to radio coverage live on Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds.
Germany's visit to Belfast will be live on BBC Two NI and BBC Two across the UK, also on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website with coverage on Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds too.
The BBC Sport website will have live video, audio and text commentary available, plus in-play clips and analysis of both matches.
Coverage will start on TV and radio from 19:30 BST with the live page on the BBC Sport website starting the build-up from around 18:45 BST.
Who are the pundits?
Former NI internationals Gerry Armstrong, David Healy and Stuart Dallas will be the analysts for the Slovakia match with NI women's international Carragh Hamilton joining the team for the Germany game.
Stephen Craigan will be alongside Thomas Kane in the commentary box.
On Radio Ulster, Joel Taggart will be joined by George McCartney with World Cup veteran John O'Neill alongside Michael Clarke on commentary.
Anything else I might be interested in?
For both matches, we'll have an extended programme on BBC iPlayer and the website too - so if you are watching on TV, don't forget to switch over to get more analysis and reaction from the team.
And if that was not enough, we'll have loads of content on our dedicated Northern Ireland men's team page including Jonathan Bradley's interview with former NI manager Ian Baraclough on the side's brush with Euro 2020 qualification.