Northern Ireland Men's Football Team

Image source, BBC Sport

It's the final World Cup qualifier for Michael O'Neill's side tonight and while their passage to the play-offs in March is already confirmed, there are plenty of reasons to tune into Monday night's game.

The match is live on BBC Two NI, BBC Three, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Radio Sports Extra and BBC Sounds from 19:30 GMT.

On TV, Stephen Watson will be alongside Stuart Dallas, David Healy and Caragh Hamilton at Windsor Park, with Stephen Craigan on commentary duties with Thomas Kane.

On radio, Joel Taggart will have former NI internationals Keith Gillespie, Jim Magilton and George McCartney for company with John O'Neill joining Michael Clarke on commentary.

The BBC Sport website will have build-up from 18:45 GMT and you can follow all the twists and turns with our live text commentary and in-play clips throughout the game plus both the video and audio streams too!

And if that wasn't enough, we'll have more analysis and reaction on the BBC iPlayer once the TV broadcast has finished so if you are watching on TV tonight, remember to switch over for more.

Image source, Inpho

Northern Ireland midfielder Brad Lyons believes that life away from football is helping him to perform better on the pitch.

Manager Michael O'Neill gave the Kilmarnock captain his first international start in over two years during Friday night's 2026 World Cup qualifying defeat by Slovakia.

Despite the frustration of the 1-0 reverse, the 28-year-old said it was the "proudest moment of his life" to have his fiancee Aishlyn and three-month-old son Theo watching on from home.

"My fiancee surprised me and went out and got him a Northern Ireland kit so I got the photo before the game," said the former Coleraine and Blackburn Rovers player.

"I do everything for them so it was a proud moment to have them watching me. Without them I couldn't do this.

"It's one of them ones where my life outside of football is perfect so it's reaping rewards on the pitch."

With Shea Charles and Ali McCann still out injured, and George Saville now suspended after his second booking of the campaign, Lyons is hoping for another start against Luxembourg at Windsor Park on Monday night (19:45 GMT).

Northern Ireland have already booked a World Cup play-off spot through the Nations League and can neither improve their seeding for that March fixture nor qualify automatically for next summer's tournament.

Despite the lack of bearing the final qualifying fixture will have on the Group A table, Lyons still believes Luxembourg's visit remains an important one.

"I think Monday night is massive, to be honest," he added.

"Michael [O'Neill] said it straight after as well, that we want to play at Windsor, put on a good performance, hopefully get a good result and show the fans what it means to us and take that momentum into March.

"Yes, it's disappointing [to lose in Slovakia] but we've got a play-off. All focus is on that and it starts on Monday night."

Image source, BBC Sport

Michael O'Neill's side are in Kosice of their penultimate World Cup 2026 qualifier against Slovakia.

Northern Ireland currently sit three points behind Friday's opponents in Group A and a victory will see them move into second place in the group before their final qualifier against Luxembourg on Monday.

Friday's game will be live on BBC Two NI, BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on Friday, 15 November from 19:30 GMT.

Stephen Watson will present the coverage from the Kosicka Futbalova Arena alongside Stuart Dallas and Gerry Armstrong with Stephen Craigan joining Thomas Kane on commentary.

Coverage on BBC Radio Ulster, BBC Sports Extra and BBC Sounds will begin at 19:30 GMT with Joel Taggart alongside former NI internationals Keith Gillespie, George McCartney and Jim Magilton.

John O'Neill will be alongside Michael Clarke on commentary.

The BBC Sport website will have all the build-up from 18:30 GMT with all of the above plus live text commentary with in-play clips of the action.

We'll also have further reaction and analysis on the BBC iPlayer after we have finished on TV - so don't forget to switch over!