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Northern Ireland Draws Potential Nations League Matches Against Republic of Ireland and Scotland
Ahead of the Uefa Nations League draw set to take place in Brussels on Thursday, potential opponents for Northern Ireland are being considered, with the Republic of Ireland and Scotland among the possibilities.
A potential group stage matchup for Northern Ireland could include the Republic of Ireland, Scotland, and Switzerland, among other teams.
As Northern Ireland prepares for its World Cup play-off against Italy, the team and its fans are also looking ahead to the Uefa Nations League draw, which will determine their opponents for the rest of the year.
Following their promotion from League C in 2024, Northern Ireland will compete in League B of the Nations League's fifth edition.
The latest installment of the competition is scheduled to begin in September and October of this year, during the newly expanded four-game international window, and will run until June 2027.
In anticipation of the draw, BBC Sport NI is examining the potential opponents that Northern Ireland could face.
The Nations League format and draw schedule are as follows: the competition will feature a draw, and the details of this process are outlined below.
The draw will take place at 17:00 GMT on Thursday at the Brussels Expo in Belgium.
Live text updates and reaction to the draw will be available on the BBC Sport website.
Northern Ireland has been placed in pot four for the draw, alongside Sweden, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, all of which won promotion from League C.
The teams in pot four will be matched against a team from one of the other three pots.
Pot 1 consists of Scotland, Hungary, Poland, and Israel.
Pot 2 includes Switzerland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria, and Ukraine.
Pot 3 is comprised of Slovenia, Georgia, Republic of Ireland, and Romania.
In a 2024 friendly match, Conor Bradley scored the winning goal against Scotland.
Northern Ireland may be paired with Scotland, who will participate in their first World Cup since 1990 this summer, in the upcoming Nations League.
The two teams last met in a friendly match in March 2024, with Northern Ireland emerging victorious 1-0 thanks to Conor Bradley's first international goal.
Alternatively, Northern Ireland could face Hungary, who narrowly missed out on the World Cup play-offs after a last-minute goal by Republic of Ireland's Troy Parrott in November.
The two teams have a history, having been paired together in the Euro 2016 qualification campaign, with Northern Ireland winning 2-1 away and drawing 1-1 at home.
Poland and Israel are the remaining potential opponents in Pot 1, and it has been some time since Northern Ireland last played either team.
Northern Ireland's previous meetings with these teams include a 1-0 loss to Poland in their Euro 2016 group stage opener and a 3-0 win over Israel in a friendly match in September 2018.
Isaac Price scored a notable free-kick in a draw against Switzerland in a friendly match last year.
From Pot 2, Northern Ireland could be matched against Switzerland, a team that denied them a spot in the 2018 World Cup and will participate in the upcoming World Cup.
In a friendly match against Switzerland at Windsor Park in March of last year, Isaac Price scored a stunning free-kick in a 1-1 draw.
Another potential opponent for Northern Ireland is Bosnia-Herzegovina, a team they could also face in the World Cup play-off final if they defeat Italy and Bosnia-Herzegovina beats Wales.
Additionally, Northern Ireland could be drawn against either Austria or Ukraine, both of which are bound for the World Cup.
Northern Ireland has lost its last five matches against Austria, while its most recent meeting with Ukraine was a 2-0 win in the Euro 2016 group stage.
The last meeting between Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland ended in a 0-0 draw in Dublin in 2018.
From Pot 3, Northern Ireland could be paired with Slovenia, a team that won both home and away matches against them in Euro 2024 qualifying.
They could also face Georgia, a team they have only met once before in a competitive match, in a friendly in March 2008 that Northern Ireland won 4-1.
A potential intriguing matchup for Northern Ireland would be a group stage draw with Republic of Ireland, who will also participate in the World Cup play-offs next month.
Since the turn of the century, the two teams have met only twice.
The Republic of Ireland won 5-0 in the Nations Cup in 2011, and the teams played to a goalless draw in a 2018 friendly, both of which took place in Dublin.
Northern Ireland has not hosted the Republic of Ireland in Belfast since 1994.
Rounding out the potential opponents in Pot 3 is Romania, a team that hopes to participate in the World Cup this summer and will face Turkey in a play-off semi-final next month.
Northern Ireland has won only three of its nine meetings with Romania, with the last four matches ending in draws.
Portugal won the Nations League title in 2025 by defeating Spain in the final in Munich.
The Nations League features four groups of four teams in Leagues A, B, and C, and two groups of three teams in League D.
The winners and runners-up of the League A groups will advance to the quarter-final stage, a two-legged tournament in March 2027, followed by semi-finals and finals in June 2027.
Additionally, there will be play-offs for promotion and relegation from Leagues A-C in March 2027.
The best-performing teams in the Nations League that do not qualify for the 2028 European Championships through the qualification campaign will participate in play-offs to earn the final qualifying spots for the tournament.
Northern Ireland's first-place finish in Group C3 for 2024 has provided an alternative path to the World Cup playoffs, and a strong performance in League B could potentially yield a similar opportunity for Euro 2028 qualification, should Michael O'Neill's team fail to secure automatic qualification.
The Nations League schedule is as follows:
The first set of matches will take place from September 24-26.
The second set of matches is scheduled for September 27-29.
Matchday 3 will occur between September 30 and October 3.
The fourth set of matches will be played from October 4-6.
The fifth matchday is set to take place from November 12-14.
The sixth and final matchday will be held from November 15-17.
The quarter-finals for League A are slated to occur between March 25-30, 2027.
The play-offs for Leagues A/B and B/C will also take place from March 25-30, 2027.
The final tournament is scheduled to run from June 9-13, 2027.
The play-offs for Leagues C/D are set to be held from March 23-28, 2028.
News
Aberdeen to unveil new manager soon with Docherty set to take assistant role
Aberdeen has bolstered its interim management team with the return of Tony Docherty, who previously served as an assistant manager, to support Peter Leven, amid anticipation of a permanent appointment announcement that sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel had indicated would be made “imminently”.
Ross County parted ways with Tony Docherty in December, and he has now taken on a new role.
Aberdeen have brought in former assistant manager Tony Docherty to support Peter Leven's interim management team, despite sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel indicating that a permanent appointment was imminent.
Docherty's return to Aberdeen comes just a week after Eirik Horneland, a former coach of Rosenborg, Brann, and Saint-Etienne, emerged as a top contender to succeed Jimmy Thelin, who was sacked earlier.
As Aberdeen delays making a full-time appointment, speculation surrounding Eirik Horneland's availability has arisen, with reports suggesting the 50-year-old Norwegian may not be able to take on the role until summer.
Since Jimmy Thelin's dismissal on January 4, Lutz Pfannenstiel has been leading the search for a replacement, and he confirmed that Tony Docherty would be joining the team to assist Peter Leven during the interim period.
Dundee Utd are facing a challenging schedule, with four matches in 14 days set to take place on a weather-affected pitch.
According to Stavrum, Eirik Horneland's coaching style, characterized by intensity, would be a good fit for Aberdeen.
Tony Docherty initially joined Aberdeen in 2013 as part of Derek McInnes' management team and spent eight years at the club.
Before his stint at Aberdeen, Docherty served as McInnes' assistant at Kilmarnock and later managed Dundee and Ross County, but his time at Ross County ended in December when he was let go with the team at the bottom of the Championship.
Lutz Pfannenstiel praised Tony Docherty's experience, stating that he has a deep understanding of the club and will be a valuable asset during the transition period.
Pfannenstiel highlighted Docherty's extensive knowledge of the Scottish Premiership, gained through his experience as both a coach and manager, which will be beneficial to the team in the short term.
The club's managerial search is nearing its conclusion, and an announcement regarding the new head coach is expected soon, according to Pfannenstiel.
Peter Leven, who is serving as caretaker manager for the third time, expressed his enthusiasm for Tony Docherty's appointment.
Leven welcomed Docherty's return, stating that his experience will be a significant boost to the team, particularly during the upcoming matches.
Leven noted that Docherty was eager to join the team and that his presence will provide valuable support during both training sessions and matches.
Eirik Horneland left his position at Saint-Etienne in early February, at which point his team was fourth in France's second tier.
If Aberdeen decides to wait until summer for Horneland to take over, it will be similar to the six-month delay that occurred when Jimmy Thelin joined the club from Elfsborg in the summer of 2024.
For the latest news, analysis, and fan perspectives on Aberdeen, visit our dedicated page.
News
Peter Murrell faces allegations of misusing £459,000 in funds over 12 years
Allegations have been made that he bought various items, such as luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome, in an improper manner.
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, is facing allegations of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a 12-year period.

An indictment document obtained by BBC News outlines the case against Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The alleged embezzlement is said to have occurred between August 2010 and January 2023, according to the indictment.
It is claimed that Murrell used party funds to purchase luxury items, including jewellery, cosmetics, and vehicles, such as two cars and a motorhome.
The Scottish Sun was the first to report on the details of the indictment.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled to take place at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, 20 February, where Murrell is expected to appear.
During his initial court appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Murrell made no plea and was subsequently granted bail.
Murrell's arrest in 2023 was part of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into the SNP's funding and finances, which led to him being charged with embezzlement in April 2024.

Although Sturgeon was questioned by police as part of the investigation, she is no longer considered a suspect.
BBC News has obtained a copy of the indictment against Murrell ahead of his upcoming court appearance.
It is worth noting that the indictment is subject to change until the case is heard in court and may be amended throughout the judicial process.
The indictment alleges that Murrell purchased a £124,550 motorhome for personal use and created false documents to justify the expense as a legitimate party expenditure.
Murrell is also accused of using £57,500 of party funds to buy a Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019, and falsifying an invoice to conceal the true nature of the purchase.
Furthermore, it is alleged that when the Jaguar was sold in 2021, Murrell deposited more than £47,000 into his personal bank account.
The indictment also claims that Murrell embezzled £16,489 from the SNP to partially fund the purchase of a Volkswagen Golf in 2016.
A list of over 80 retailers is included in the indictment, where Murrell allegedly made purchases totalling more than £159,000 between 2014 and 2022, using party credit or charge cards for personal expenses.
The retailers named in the indictment include Harrods, the Royal Mint, John Lewis, Homebase, and Argos, among others.
It is alleged that Murrell used SNP credit or charge cards to make these purchases and then inserted false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions into the party's accounting systems.
The indictment also accuses Murrell of making purchases worth over £81,600 through Amazon using the same method.
Murrell served as the SNP's chief executive for 22 years before his departure.
Murrell and Sturgeon were married in 2010, but announced their separation in January 2025, after being together for many years.
News
Bangladesh Nationalist Party Wins Landslide in Country’s First Poll Since Youth-Led Protests
The public is looking forward to a shift back to democratic governance, following a 15-year period of authoritarian leadership by Sheikh Hasina.
In a significant shift in the country's political landscape, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has achieved a decisive majority in parliament, 18 months after widespread protests led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, the country's longest-serving prime minister.

The BNP secured over two-thirds of the seats in the recent general election, with the Jamaat party, the main Islamist party in the country, coming in second; meanwhile, the Awami League, led by Hasina, was not allowed to participate in the election.
As the BNP's leader, Tarique Rahman is poised to become the next prime minister, facing significant challenges in revitalizing the economy and restoring democratic principles after 15 years of authoritarian rule under Hasina's leadership.
In a concurrent referendum, voters also expressed support for comprehensive democratic reforms, which are expected to shape the country's future.
Following Friday prayers in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman expressed gratitude to his supporters, stating, "I am grateful for the love you have shown me"; his party has chosen not to hold a victory procession.
Rahman, who was elected to parliament for the first time, was among the 212 successful BNP candidates; according to the Election Commission, voter turnout was 59.44%.
This marks a significant turnaround for Rahman, who spent 17 years in self-imposed exile in London before taking over as party leader after his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, passed away in December.
During his campaign, Rahman pledged to restore democratic principles and practices in the country.
The new government will need to address pressing issues, including economic revitalization, controlling rising food prices, and creating employment opportunities for the country's large youth population.
Rebuilding relations with neighboring India is also a key priority for the incoming government.
In the aftermath of his victory, Rahman received a congratulatory call from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who acknowledged his "remarkable victory".
Modi took to social media to reaffirm India's commitment to promoting peace, progress, and prosperity in both countries, citing their deep historical and cultural ties.
Although the BNP has pledged to bring about change, the party has faced criticism in the past for corruption and alleged human rights abuses during its previous tenure in government in the early 2000s.
The recent election represents a pivotal moment for the country, with one of the two main parties achieving a significant victory, presenting both opportunities and risks.
Proposed constitutional reforms include introducing term limits for the prime minister, establishing a directly elected upper house of parliament, strengthening presidential powers, and increasing judicial independence.
The reforms also aim to increase female representation in parliament, an area where significant progress is still needed, as evidenced by the limited number of successful female candidates in the recent election.
As the newly elected leader, Tarique Rahman will face intense scrutiny as he works to deliver on his promises to a predominantly young electorate eager for change, many of whom participated in the student-led protests that ultimately led to Hasina's removal and paved the way for the February 12 election.
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