Northern Ireland stand on the verge of securing promotion to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League for the first time as manager Michael O’Neill’s squad prepare for a decisive fixture against Ukraine on Saturday. Having previously won just once in 16 second-tier matches, the team accumulated eight points from four games across September and October without conceding a single goal.
Promotion Scenarios and Euro 2028 Seeding Rewards
A spot in League A could be confirmed on Saturday evening if Georgia defeat Hungary in Tbilisi before Northern Ireland win their 19:45 GMT kick-off against Ukraine at Windsor Park. Even if Hungary avoid defeat in Georgia, a home victory against Ukraine would leave Northern Ireland needing only a point in Budapest on Tuesday night to top the group and guarantee promotion.
Securing a top-two finish in the group, which Northern Ireland will guarantee with at least a draw on Saturday, ensures a spot in the second pot of seeds when the Euro 2028 qualifying draw takes place in Belfast next month. Strong performance in the competition also offers a potential play-off route for major tournament qualification, similar to how the national team previously reached the World Cup play-offs despite placing third in their group.
Testing Against Elite European Opposition
Beyond tournament pathways, O’Neill views top-tier competition as essential for squad development. The manager has previously organized friendly fixtures against elite sides such as Spain and France. Midfielder Shea Charles previously noted that facing world-class players like Rodri in those games helped prepare him for the Premier League prior to his £30 million transfer to Fulham.
“You do look at the teams that do step up and it’s tough. We’ve seen teams do that before and they find it very difficult,” O’Neill told BBC Sport when discussing the prospect of facing League A sides. “But for us to get that opportunity to play against those big teams in a competitive group stage would be great, it would be great for the development of the team.”
O’Neill added that regular competitive games against top European nations demonstrate what is required to reach the highest level of international and club football. “That’s good for any player, but particularly young players, because it lets them see what’s required, what’s required to be a Spanish international and playing in the Champions League or playing your club football at the highest level in Europe,” he explained. “We want our players to aspire to try to get there too.”
Barnsley midfielder Patrick Kelly, who scored his first senior international goal against a France side featuring Kylian Mbappe after moving from West Ham in the summer of 2025, agreed that testing the squad against elite players accelerates development. “Playing those bigger nations, it would only improve us as a team,” Kelly told BBC Sport. “You want to test yourself against the best. A couple of the lads have experienced it, they would have played Germany in the last [qualifying ]campaign and done well, and I had it that night against France.”
Blackburn Rovers defender Tom Atcheson, whose only international start before this campaign came against Guinea, added that the players feel ready for the highest level. “I think we do belong there and we’re showing it,” Atcheson said, noting the squad’s ambition to complete the task across their remaining two fixtures.
