World Cup
2025-10-10 - Northern Ireland vs Slovakia
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: World Cup Qualifier
Friday 10th October 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Northern Ireland
The parting between Northern Ireland and Michael O'Neill after a very successful first stint in charge of the national team did not go well for either and it was perhaps no surprise that he was eventually re-appointed. Once again Northern Ireland look to be an improving nation under O'Neill's guidance and they are hoping to end a forty year wait to return to the World Cup Finals next summer.
It has been almost a decade since Northern Ireland reached the Second Round at Euro 2016 and they have suffered some near misses in their bid to reach a major international tournament Finals again. They were beaten 1-0 on aggregate in a World Cup Play Off tie ahead of the 2018 Finals, while this Qualifying Group looks wide open after results last month. However, Northern Ireland have two big home games to play this week and they likely need four points to really begin to think about a top two finish in the section.
Northern Ireland offered some resistance to hosts Germany last month, but two goals in four second half minutes meant a 3rd defeat in 5 games in all competitions. The win at Luxembourg means Northern Ireland have the same tally as Germany in this Group and both are 3 points behind Slovakia, but the hosts have a chance to erase that on Friday having won 6 of their last 7 games at home. Northern Ireland have won 4 competitive fixtures in a row at Windsor Park.
Slovakia
When the draw was made for this World Cup Qualifying Group, Slovakia fans might have immediately believed it would be a straight fight between their team and Northern Ireland to finish behind Germany. The players have had a different kind of belief and the 2-0 win over Germany at home means Slovakia are in control of this section with four Qualifiers to play.
Winning the Group is the only direct route into the World Cup Finals for next summer and Slovakia's very late winner at Luxembourg last month means they are 3 points clear of both Northern Ireland and Germany. They did miss out on Promotion to League B in the Nations League, which has made the upset over Germany that much more of an achievement for Slovakia who are looking to reach the World Cup Finals for just the second time.
Slovakia had not won any of 4 games in all competitions and had suffered consecutive defeats before the World Cup Qualifiers began, but they have won both fixtures in this Group with clean sheets. The team had lost 3 of 4 away games played and were beaten in Extra Time in the exception during that run, but Slovakia scored in injury time to snap the run and secure a 0-1 victory over Luxembourg last month.
Head to Head
These nations last met in the Euro 2020 Play Off in November 2020 and it was Slovakia who won 1-2 After Extra Time.
Northern Ireland have hosted Slovakia 3 times previously and both teams have a win apiece.
Prediction
A transition in the Northern Ireland squad occurred after Michael O'Neill first departed in April 2020 and then returned in December 2022 and there has long been a focus on the players to have the experience to reach major international Finals by the time next summer's World Cup would roll around.
They have shown plenty of improvement over the last twelve months and Northern Ireland will be playing in League B of the next running of the Nations League.
In the last Euro Qualifying Group, Northern Ireland beat Denmark and they have won 4 home competitive games in a row. The battling display in Germany may have come up short, but it is another sign of how much stronger Northern Ireland are now.
However, they are facing a confident Slovakia team who have already beaten Germany in this World Cup Qualifying Group and so are in control of their own destiny. Fifteen years have passed since Slovakia last played in the World Cup Finals, but they have reached the last three continental tournaments in 2016, 2020 and 2024 and that gives this squad plenty of experience.
Both teams have to be playing with belief, but Slovakia's recent away record will lead to some concerns.
They scored very late to beat Luxembourg, but had not won any of 4 away games in all competitions before that and had lost 3 of those games. Slovakia struggle for consistency in the final third away from home and that may just give Northern Ireland the narrow advantage.
A draw has to be a real player, but Northern Ireland are the more likely winners of this important World Cup Qualifier on current form. Windsor Park is always a tough ground to visit for teams and that may be the case again on Friday evening as the hosts look to get back in touch at the top of this World Cup Qualifying Group at the halfway stage of the section.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Northern Ireland 1-0 Slovakia
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Northern Ireland 0 Asian Handicap at 1.75 with SportBet.One
