Official: Northern Ireland squad revealed ahead of crucial Italy World Cup play-off
Northern Ireland have officially announced their squad to take on Italy and either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the crucial World Cup play-off campaign coming up at the end of March.
Italy will host Northern Ireland on March 26 in Bergamo for the World Cup play-off semi-final. The winner of that tie will go on to face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina away from home in the play-off final on March 31, which will be a one-legged decider for a spot at the final tournament.
The losing semi-finalists are due to play a friendly against each other on March 31 as well.
Northern Ireland head coach Michael O’Neill has named a bumper squad of 28 players for the upcoming play-off semi-final against Italy. The major absentee for the Green and White Army is Liverpool right-back Conor Bradley, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season with a serious knee injury.
Italy are the clear favourites heading into the semi-final given their home advantage and the clear gulf in quality between the two squads.
Italy are yet to announce their squad, but it is expected that all of the players included will play for top-flight sides, and the majority of them for clubs who have participated in the Champions League in 2025-26.
For comparison, the Northern Ireland squad has just four Premier League-affiliated players: Sunderland duo Daniel Ballard and Trai Hume, Crystal Palace’s Justin Devenny, who has five league starts to his name this season, and Liverpool youngster Kieran Morrsion, who has only ever played 71 minutes of senior football at club level; his two appearances coming in domestic cup competitions.
Otherwise, the Northern Ireland squad features 13 players from the EFL Championship, eight players from EFL League One, and one apiece from the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Championship and 2. Bundesliga.
Confirmed Northern Ireland squad to face Italy and either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina
Goalkeepers: Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool), P.Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Hazard (Plymouth), Clarke (Partick Thistle).
Defenders: McNair (Hull), Ballard (Sunderland), McConville (Norwich), Brown (Oxford), Devlin (Portsmouth), Hume (Sunderland), Spencer (Oxford), Toal (Bolton).
Midfielders: Saville (Luton), McCann (Preston), S.Charles (Southampton), Devenny (Crystal Palace), Smyth (QPR), Price (West Brom), Kelly (Barnsley), Galbraith (Swansea), Donley (Oxford), McDonnell (Oxford), Lyons (Kilmarnock), Morrison (Liverpool).
Forwards: Magennis (Exeter), D.Charles (Huddersfield), Marshall (VfL Bochum), Reid (Stevenage).
Our squad for our World Cup play-off is here #GAWA pic.twitter.com/Qe2uZZslCd
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) March 16, 2026