FIFA World Cup Qualifying - UEFA

Slovakia vs Northern Ireland, 2026 World Cup Qualifying - UEFA, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup Qualifying - UEFA
Slovakia
  • 90'+1': Tomas Bobcek
FT
1 - 0
Northern Ireland
  • Red Card 90'+9': Danny Ballard

Northern Ireland secure World Cup playoff spot despite Slovakia loss

Tomas Bobcek's late goal ended Northern Ireland's hopes of making it out of World Cup qualifying Group A but they came away assured of a playoff place regardless.

Match Timeline

  • 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
  • 0': First Half begins.
  • 3': Dávid Hancko (Slovakia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 3': Foul by Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland).
  • 3': Attempt blocked. Milan Skriniar (Slovakia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tomás Rigo.
  • 3': Attempt blocked. Milan Skriniar (Slovakia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
  • 4': Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  • 4': Foul by Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia).
  • 5': Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Stanislav Lobotka.
  • 5': Foul by Trai Hume (Northern Ireland).
  • 5': Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 7': Attempt saved. Isaac Price (Northern Ireland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner by Martin Dúbravka (Slovakia). Assisted by Justin Devenny with a cross.
  • 11': Corner, Slovakia. Conceded by George Saville.
  • 14': Foul by George Saville (Northern Ireland).
  • 14': Matús Bero (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 15': Attempt blocked. Tomás Rigo (Slovakia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lukás Haraslín.
  • 15': Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 15': Foul by Tomás Rigo (Slovakia).
  • 16': Foul by Matús Bero (Slovakia).
  • 16': Ruairi McConville (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 17': Attempt missed. Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Justin Devenny following a set piece situation.
  • 17': Foul by Dion Charles (Northern Ireland).
  • 17': Norbert Gyömbér (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 18': David Strelec (Slovakia) hits the left post with a left footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Dávid Hancko.
  • 18': Attempt missed. Dávid Duris (Slovakia) header from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high.
  • 23': Foul by Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland).
  • 23': Matús Bero (Slovakia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  • 23': Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 26': Delay in match because of an injury Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Northern Ireland).
  • 27': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 28': Foul by Dion Charles (Northern Ireland).
  • 28': Milan Skriniar (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 30': Attempt saved. Dion Charles (Northern Ireland) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top left corner by Martin Dúbravka (Slovakia). Assisted by Ruairi McConville with a headed pass.
  • 31': Foul by Dion Charles (Northern Ireland).
  • 31': Tomás Rigo (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 31': Attempt blocked. Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
  • 31': Attempt missed. Stanislav Lobotka (Slovakia) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
  • 32': Dion Charles (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 32': Foul by Milan Skriniar (Slovakia).
  • 34': Foul by Matús Bero (Slovakia).
  • 34': George Saville (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 35': Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 35': Foul by David Strelec (Slovakia).
  • 36': Brad Lyons (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 36': Foul by David Strelec (Slovakia).
  • 37': Brad Lyons (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 37': Foul by Matús Bero (Slovakia).
  • 38': Attempt missed. Isaac Price (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
  • 42': Attempt blocked. Isaac Price (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Trai Hume.
  • 44': Foul by Ruairi McConville (Northern Ireland).
  • 44': Matús Bero (Slovakia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  • 45': Attempt missed. Milan Skriniar (Slovakia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Tomás Rigo with a cross following a set piece situation.
  • 45': Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
  • 45'+1': Offside, Slovakia. Lukás Haraslín is caught offside.
  • 45'+2': Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  • 45'+2': Foul by Adam Obert (Slovakia).
  • 45'+3': Attempt missed. George Saville (Northern Ireland) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ruairi McConville with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
  • 45'+3': First Half ends, Slovakia 0, Northern Ireland 0.
  • 45': Second Half begins Slovakia 0, Northern Ireland 0.
  • 45': Substitution, Northern Ireland. Jamie Reid replaces Dion Charles.
  • 46': Attempt blocked. David Strelec (Slovakia) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dávid Duris.
  • 46': Offside, Slovakia. Matús Bero is caught offside.
  • 49': Foul by Paddy McNair (Northern Ireland).
  • 49': Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 53': Foul by Trai Hume (Northern Ireland).
  • 53': Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 55': Offside, Slovakia. Milan Skriniar is caught offside.
  • 57': Foul by Trai Hume (Northern Ireland).
  • 57': Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 57': Trai Hume (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 58': Attempt missed. Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
  • 61': Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 61': Foul by David Strelec (Slovakia).
  • 62': Delay in match because of an injury Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Northern Ireland).
  • 63': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 64': Foul by Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland).
  • 64': Lukás Haraslín (Slovakia) wins a free kick on the left wing.
  • 65': GOAL OVERTURNED BY VAR: David Strelec (Slovakia) scores but the goal is ruled out after a VAR review.
  • 65': Handball by David Strelec (Slovakia).
  • 66': VAR Decision: No Goal Slovakia 0-0 Northern Ireland.
  • 68': Handball by Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland).
  • 68': Attempt blocked. Dávid Hancko (Slovakia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lukás Haraslín.
  • 68': Attempt missed. Dávid Hancko (Slovakia) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left.
  • 69': Substitution, Slovakia. Leo Sauer replaces Dávid Duris.
  • 70': Attempt missed. Isaac Price (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Justin Devenny.
  • 70': Dávid Hancko (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 70': Foul by Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland).
  • 70': Attempt blocked. Isaac Price (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ruairi McConville.
  • 71': Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 71': Foul by Dávid Hancko (Slovakia).
  • 72': Foul by Ruairi McConville (Northern Ireland).
  • 72': Stanislav Lobotka (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 72': Foul by Norbert Gyömbér (Slovakia).
  • 72': Justin Devenny (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 73': Norbert Gyömbér (Slovakia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 73': Substitution, Northern Ireland. Josh Magennis replaces Paddy McNair.
  • 74': Attempt missed. Brad Lyons (Northern Ireland) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
  • 77': Delay in match because of an injury Jamie Reid (Northern Ireland).
  • 78': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
  • 78': Substitution, Northern Ireland. Jamie Donley replaces Jamie Reid because of an injury.
  • 80': Attempt saved. Dávid Hancko (Slovakia) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Northern Ireland). Assisted by Lukás Haraslín.
  • 81': Foul by Josh Magennis (Northern Ireland).
  • 81': Norbert Gyömbér (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 83': Conor Bradley (Northern Ireland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
  • 83': Foul by Dávid Hancko (Slovakia).
  • 84': Substitution, Slovakia. Lubomír Tupta replaces Lukás Haraslín.
  • 84': Substitution, Slovakia. László Bénes replaces Tomás Rigo.
  • 87': Offside, Northern Ireland. Justin Devenny is caught offside.
  • 88': Handball by Jamie Donley (Northern Ireland).
  • 88': Substitution, Slovakia. Róbert Bozeník replaces David Strelec.
  • 88': Substitution, Slovakia. Tomás Bobcek replaces Norbert Gyömbér.
  • 90': Attempt blocked. László Bénes (Slovakia) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Obert.
  • 90': Corner, Slovakia. Conceded by Isaac Price.
  • 90'+1': Corner, Slovakia. Conceded by Conor Bradley.
  • 90'+1': Goal! Slovakia 1, Northern Ireland 0. Tomás Bobcek (Slovakia) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by László Bénes with a cross following a corner.
  • 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 8 minutes of added time.
  • 90'+3': Attempt missed. Tomás Bobcek (Slovakia) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right following a fast break.
  • 90'+4': Corner, Northern Ireland. Conceded by Leo Sauer.
  • 90'+6': Handball by George Saville (Northern Ireland).
  • 90'+7': Substitution, Northern Ireland. Ciaron Brown replaces Trai Hume.
  • 90'+8': Foul by George Saville (Northern Ireland).
  • 90'+8': Róbert Bozeník (Slovakia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
  • 90'+8': George Saville (Northern Ireland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
  • 90'+9': Foul by Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland).
  • 90'+9': Stanislav Lobotka (Slovakia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
  • 90'+9': Second yellow card to Dan Ballard (Northern Ireland) for a bad foul.
  • 90'+10': Second Half ends, Slovakia 1, Northern Ireland 0.
  • 0': Match ends, Slovakia 1, Northern Ireland 0.

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/nir.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=originNIR SVKhttps://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/countries/500/svk.png&h=25&scale=crop&w=25&location=origin
20 Fouls 14
2 Yellow Cards 1
1 Red Cards 0
1 Offsides 3
2 Corner Kicks 3
1 Saves 2
37.6 Possession 62.4
9 SHOTS 16
2 ON GOAL 2
0.2 On Target % 0.1
0 Penalty Goals 0
0 Penalty Kicks Taken 0
219 Accurate Passes 425
319 Passes 533
0.7 Pass Completion % 0.8
4 Accurate Crosses 8
16 Crosses 20
0.3 Cross % 0.4
73 Long Balls 58
23 Accurate Long Balls 21
0.3 Long Balls % 0.4
2 Blocked Shots 7
10 Effective Tackles 6
13 Tackles 12
0.8 Tackle % 0.5
13 Interceptions 10
25 Effective Clearances 29
25 Clearances 29

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup Qualifying - UEFA

Venue: Košická futbalová aréna (KFA)
Location: Kosice, Slovakia
Attendance: 12,093

WCQ - UEFA Table

# TEAM GP GD PTS
1 Germany 6 +13 15
2 Slovakia 6 -2 12
3 Northern Ireland 6 +1 9
4 Luxembourg 6 -12 0
Full Table

Line-Ups

SVK Slovakia (3-4-3)

No. Name
1 Martin Dúbravka (GK)
14 Milan Skriniar
4 Adam Obert
6 Norbert Gyömbér Yellow Card
19 Tomás Rigo
22 Stanislav Lobotka
16 Dávid Hancko
21 Matús Bero
15 David Strelec
17 Lukás Haraslín
20 Dávid Duris
Slovakia Substitutes:
Dominik Takac, Leo Sauer, Tomas Bobcek, Peter Pekarík, László Bénes, Lubomír Tupta, Ivan Schranz, Denis Vavro, Róbert Bozeník, Marek Rodák, Patrik Hrosovský, Ivan Mesik.

NIR Northern Ireland (3-4-2-1)

No. Name
1 Bailey Peacock-Farrell (GK)
4 Danny Ballard Yellow Card
13 Ruairi Mcconville
17 Paddy McNair
6 George Saville Yellow Card
16 Brad Lyons
15 Justin Devenny
5 Trai Hume Yellow Card
9 Dion Charles
14 Isaac Price
2 Conor Bradley
Northern Ireland Substitutes:
Luke Southwood, Josh Magennis, Jamie Donley, Conor Hazard, Patrick Kelly, Ciaron Brown, Terry Devlin, Jamal Lewis, Jamie Reid, Jamie Mcdonnell, Callum Marshall, Paul Smyth.

WCQ - UEFA News

Are Jesse Marsch and Craig Bellamy destined to butt heads again at World Cup 2026?
Are Jesse Marsch and Craig Bellamy destined to butt heads again at World Cup 2026?

Jesse Marsch discusses Canada's group at the World Cup, which could feature Wales.

Burley doubts Ronaldo can lead Portugal to World Cup glory
Burley doubts Ronaldo can lead Portugal to World Cup glory

Craig Burley debates Portugal's World Cup hopes if Cristiano Ronaldo starts.

Harry Kane excited by England's 2026 World Cup draw
Harry Kane excited by England's 2026 World Cup draw

Harry Kane reacts to England's group stage draw for the 2026 World Cup.

Would Italy be the favorites to win Group B if they qualify?
Would Italy be the favorites to win Group B if they qualify?

Gab Marcotti analyzes Group B consisting of Canada, Switzerland, Qatar and the winner of UEFA Playoff A.

2026 World Cup draw: How Ireland are involved without qualifying yet
2026 World Cup draw: How Ireland are involved without qualifying yet

The Republic of Ireland are yet to book their place at the 2026 World Cup, but that doesn't mean they can't play a part in Friday's group-stage draw.