Northern Ireland will take on Switzerland and Iceland in international challenge matches in Belfast over the coming months, it was announced today.
First up is a friendly against the Swiss at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Friday 21 March (7.45pm kick-off).
And the international challenge game against Iceland is pencilled in for Tuesday 10 June at the National Stadium (7.45pm).
Senior men’s team boss Michael O’Neill said the matches will provide good tests for his players ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualifiers this autumn.
Switzerland are 20th in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking, while Iceland are in 70th place. Northern Ireland are currently 71st in the rankings.
O’Neill said the Swiss are a consistent Pot 1 team and the game in Belfast will provide an opportunity for the Northern Ireland players to test themselves against strong opposition.
He also pointed out Iceland have been solid performers on the international stage in recent years.
Switzerland, who reached the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2024 last summer, competed in League A of the UEFA Nations League back in the autumn, although they were relegated. They managed home draws against Serbia and Denmark in A4, which was won by Spain.
Like Northern Ireland, they have a blend of youth and experience in their squad. Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka and Real Betis defender Ricardo Rodriguez are the stalwarts, with well over 100 caps apiece, however relatively new faces like AC Milan forward Noah Okafor, Brest midfielder Edmilson Fernandes and Benfica attacker Zeki Amdouni are also making their mark in the national team.
The game against the Swiss will be followed by a trip to the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm to face Sweden in an international challenge match on Tuesday 25 March (6pm kick-off GMT).
Switzerland and Sweden are set to face each other in World Cup qualifiers later this year. They are in Group B along with Slovenia and Kosovo.
Back in the autumn, in the UEFA Nations League, Iceland faced Wales, Turkey and Montenegro in League B Group 4, finishing third behind the Welsh and Turks.
They won both of their games against Montenegro and drew 2-2 with eventual group winners Wales at home.
In March they will compete in a League B/League C promotion/relegation play-off against Kosovo.
Iceland have a blend of youth and experience in their squad, too.
Midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who made 200 appearances for Burnley between 2016 and 2024, is their most experienced player. Now playing for Al-Orobah in the Saudi Pro League, the 34-year-old has 99 caps for his country.
Only two other members of their most recent squad have more than 50 caps. Thirty-one-year-old defender Sverrir Ingi Ingason, who plays for Greek side Panathinaikos, has 55 caps, while Arnor Traustason, also aged 31, has 63 caps. The midfielder plays his club football for IFK Norrkoping in Sweden.
Up and coming stars in their team include Gent striker Andri Gudjohnsen, son of the former Bolton Wanderers, Chelsea and Barcelona frontman, and Icelandic legend, Eidur Gudjohnsen. The 22-year-old has scored eight times for his country in 30 appearances.
Another young striker with great potential is Real Sociedad’s Orri Oskarsson, aged 20. He has earned 14 senior international caps to date, scoring five goals.
This autumn Iceland are set to face the winners of the Nations League quarter-final between France and Croatia – it will be played in March – as well as Ukraine and Azerbaijan in Group D of the European qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 2026.
Northern Ireland are in Group A for stage one of the FIFA World Cup 2026 European qualifiers and will play either Germany or Italy, Slovakia and Luxembourg between September and November.
Michael O’Neill’s team will also have an away friendly in June prior to the game against Iceland, however this will not be confirmed until after the Nations League play-offs in March.
For priority pre-sale access to tickets for both games please click here. Both fixtures will be included in 2024-25 Campaign Packages.
Image: George Saville goes airborne during a World Cup qualifier against Switzerland in Geneva in October 2021.
