Northern Ireland Women's Football Team

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland will play their final home Nations League game against Poland at Seaview on Friday, 30 May.

The game in north Belfast next month will kick off at 19:00 BST.

Tanya Oxtoby's side last played at Seaview, the home of Irish Premiership side Crusaders, in October 2023 when they drew 1-1 with Hungary in the Nations League.

Head coach Oxtoby will be without assistant Stuart McLaren after his departure was announced following Tuesday's 1-0 win against Romania at Windsor Park.

The Scottish coach joined the backroom staff at the start of 2024 but leaves to take up a new role with Fifa, working closely with the Ghanaian FA as a talent coach.

"It's an exciting role and a great opportunity but, naturally, I'm sad to leave Northern Ireland," McLaren said.

"During my time here I've seen real collaboration across all parts of the senior women's set-up. There is clarity and structure. Every camp we evolve and look to learn how we can do things better."

Northern Ireland are second in Group B1 having picked up seven points from their four games.

They are three points behind leaders Poland, who drew 1-1 with Bosnia-Herzegovina earlier this week.

NI will finish their Nations League campaign away to the Bosnians on Tuesday, 3 June in Zenica.

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Pacemaker Press

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns said that she will "savour" a clean sheet after her side beat Romania 1-0 at Windsor Park on Tuesday.

Teenager Kascie Weir scored the winner with her first international goal, but Burns was equally as important to the win, pulling off a number of saves including one in injury-time to thwart Mihaela Ciolacu.

After five games without a clean sheet, Burns was pleased with the defensive effort in the gritty win.

"We savour clean sheets as much as we can, we try and get them whenever we can, but with opponents now it is becoming a bit more challenging so it was good to get it and it sets us up well for the next camp," she said.

"You don't really want those opportunities [Ciolacu chance] but that is what you train for as a goalkeeper to be able to pull off these saves whenever you need to so to be able to pull off a save like that to keep us in the game puts me in a happy place."

The 28-year-old, who will now move to Canada to join her new side Calgary Wild, was also pleased with the contributions of the forwards in Weir's well-worked winning goal.

"The last few games we have lacked in that department, we gave them [attacking players] the freedom to express themselves and play the way they can play coming into this game," she added.

"They just needed to back themselves more and it's probably one of the best goals we have scored with the link-up play."

Northern Ireland are now three points behind group leaders Poland, who they face next month, and Burns is confident that her side can produce a better display at home than they did in Gdansk when they lost 2-0.

"We know Poland are a good opponent and they've proved that by qualifying for the Euros, we don't overlook them, but we want to challenge ourselves and compete against the higher-ranked teams."

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland are back in Nations League action with a double-header against Romania.

Tanya Oxtoby's side travel to Bucharest on Friday, 4 April, before the sides meet at Windsor Park on Tuesday.

From coverage on BBC iPlayer to the form guide, here's all you need to know before the games.

Who's in and out of the matchday squads?

Northern Ireland will be without key defender Laura Rafferty for the games after the 28-year-old picked up an injury while playing for Rangers.

Glentoran midfielder Chloe McCarron is also missing through injury, while Casey Howe is a long-term absentee.

It is a stable squad for Tanya Oxtoby, with teenager striker Kascie Weir and experienced midfielder Nadene Caldwell retaining their places after being drafted into the panel in February.

The majority of Romania's squad play their football in their domestic league.

One of the few who ply their trade abroad is captain Florentina Olar, who plays for Fortuna Hjorring in Denmark.

The 39-year-old forward has won 180 caps and scored the first of her 24 goals in 2001 - when eight of Northern Ireland's squad weren't even born.

What's the form for both sides been like?

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland have won one and lost one of their opening two fixtures in the Nations League.

Their campaign started with a 2-0 defeat by top seeds Poland in Gdansk as the hosts scored two quickfire goals.

It looked to be another disappointing night against Bosnia-Herzegovina, a side Northern Ireland twice defeated in Euro 2025 qualifying last year, as the visitors led 2-1 in the closing stages at Inver Park.

However, captain Simone Magill stepped up with two late goals to clinch victory for Northern Ireland.

Romania, on the other hand, have lost both of their two fixtures to the same opponents.

A heavy 4-0 defeat in Bosnia was followed by a narrow 1-0 loss at home to Poland.

How can I watch and follow the game?

You can watch both games against Romania on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

The first game on in Romania Friday kicks-off at 17:00 BST, while the return fixture at Windsor Park on Tuesday will begin at 19:00 BST.

Former Northern Ireland captain Marissa Callaghan will be on co-commentary duty alongside Thomas Kane for both matches.

We'll also have a live text commentary of both matches, with in-play clips and highlights on the BBC Sport website after the final whistle.

Image source, Getty Images

Nat Johnson has been called up to the Northern Ireland women's squad for the Nations League double-header against Romania.

The Nottingham Forest full-back replaces injured Rangers defender Laura Rafferty in Tanya Oxtoby's 23-player group.

Johnson, 31, has won three caps for NI, making her debut in a 1-0 win against Croatia in the Euro play-off second leg in October.

Northern Ireland face Romania in Bucharest on Friday, before a home game at Windsor Park against the same opposition on Tuesday, 8 April.

Oxtoby has also included 16-year-old goalkeeper Abbie Smith as a training player as the team prepare at Leicester City's training ground before flying to Romania on Wednesday.

Under-17 international Smith recently signed for Manchester City from Women's Premiership side Crusaders.

Lisburn Rangers 17-year-old goalkeeper Kate Smith will also join up with the squad as a training player next week.

Former England international Izzy Christiansen, as she did last month, has joined the coaching staff as NI target two wins which would keep them in contention for promotion from Group B1.