Northern Ireland Women's Football Team

Image source, Getty Images

Preston North End left-back Jamal Lewis has been called into the Northern Ireland squad for the first time in more than a year.

The 27-year-old, who joined Preston on a short-term deal until the end of December, has won 39 international caps.

The last of those came as in a 1-0 Nations League loss against Bulgaria in October 2024.

Having begun his career at Norwich City, where he made 100 appearances, Lewis joined Newcastle and had spells on loan with Watford and Brazilian side Sao Paulo during his time on Tyneside.

Lewis has made three appearances for Preston since arriving at the end of October, with his first start coming in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Millwall.

Image source, Irish FA

Northern Ireland's latest home shirt has been released ahead of the final two World Cup qualifiers.

According to Adidas, the traditional green shirt is "punctuated by an abstract graphic inspired by the transatlantic ships traditionally built in the shipyards of Belfast".

The Harland and Wolff cranes have previously been used as inspiration for Northern Ireland kits, and the most recent away shirts for Northern Ireland women's team have included a nod to the Giants Causeway and the Dark Hedges.

It would look good at the World Cup finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada, right? But first, Michael O'Neill's side have to get there with their final two qualifiers and a possible play-off in March.

The new kit will be worn for the first time in Northern Ireland's final World Cup qualifier at home to Luxembourg on 17 November.

What do you think? Let us know at @bbcsportni on X and BBC Sport NI on Facebook and Instagram.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Northern Ireland will discover who stands between them and a possible play-off when the draw for 2027 World Cup qualifying takes place on Tuesday.

Qualifying for the tournament, which will be held in Brazil, follows the same format as the Nations League and is split into three tiers.

After their promotion play-off defeat by Iceland, Tanya Oxtoby's side will be in League B for qualifying.

To progress to the play-offs, second seeds NI must not finish bottom of their four-team group.

If Oxtoby's side were to win their group, they would not only earn promotion to League A but their first-round play-off would be against a side who finished second or third in League B.

Likewise, if NI were to finish second or third in their group they would face a side who finished in fourth place in League A or a Group B winner.

The second round of the play-offs are seeded, and if they progress NI would likely face League A opposition.

So, in short, should NI make the play-offs they will have to defeat two strong nations to reach a first-ever World Cup.

Northern Ireland have played all four pot one teams in recent years, with varying results.

Portugal twice ran out winners in Euro 2025 qualifying, while there were friendly defeats by Belgium ahead of Euro 2022 and by Wales the following April.

They twice beat Albania in the 2023 Nations League, and have tasted success against Luxembourg, Malta Montenegro and Latvia in the past.

The fixtures take place in windows across March, April and June, and the play-offs take place in October and November.

Pot One: Belgium, Portugal, Wales & Switzerland

Pot Two: Scotland, Czech Republic, Finland & Northern Ireland

Pot Three: Albania, Turkey, Slovakia, Israel

Pot Four: Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Latvia

It's a huge week for Tanya Oxtoby's side with a two-legged play-off with Iceland to determine whether they'll be promoted to the top tier of Uefa's Nations League competition.

They face Iceland on Friday live on BBC iPlayer (19:00 BST) in the first leg in Ballymena.

What do you think the score will be?

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Image source, Getty Images

Iceland fell into the Nations League relegation-promotion play-off after finishing third in their group in League A behind France and Norway.

They didn't actually win a game but draws against Norway and Switzerland were credible, and France only narrowly won the first match between the sides.

Things didn't go as well for Iceland at Euro 2025 as they finished bottom of Group A without a point with Norway, Finland and Switzerland.

In comparison to Northern Ireland, they are ranked 17th in the world while Tanya Oxtoby's side sit in 44th.

Despite a tournament to forget in Switzerland, and their pre-Euros friendly win over Serbia is their only victory in the last 12 months, they still have dangerous players.

Captain Glodis Perla Viggosdottir is an 140-capped defender who plays for Bayern Munich, while goalkeeper Cecilia Ran Runarsdottir and midfielder Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir both play for Inter Milan.

All names to look out for in the double-header.

Image source, Press Eye

Northern Ireland are looking to win promotion League A in the Nations League for the first time.

Since the Nations League started in 2023, Northern Ireland have always been in League B and this is their first shot at reaching the top flight.

Being in League A has a benefit when it comes to qualifying for major tournaments, such as the 2027 World Cip, which follow the same format as the Nations League and sides who are in the top division can benefit from either automatic qualification or joining the play-offs against lower-ranked opposition.

Northern Ireland finished second in their Nations League group behind winners Poland.

NI started League B2 with a 2-0 defeat in Poland in February, and needed captain Simone Magill to pop up with two late goals in a dramatic 3-2 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Larne.

A draw in Romania was followed by Kascie Weir's goal in a 1-0 win in the return game in Belfast, before Poland ran out 4-0 winners at Seaview in May.

Oxtoby's side secured a promotion play-off place with a 1-1 draw with Bosnia in Zenica in May, which was the last time they have played together.