Northern Ireland XI vs Ukraine – Predicted lineup and team news

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The Football Faithful

·2 October 2026

Northern Ireland XI vs Ukraine – Predicted lineup and team news

Northern Ireland are aiming to keep their perfect record intact in the UEFA Nations League as they head to Trnava on Friday to take on Ukraine at the City Arena.

The visitors arrive with the same unbeaten run as their hosts in Group B. They began their campaign in style with a 1-0 win away to Georgia, then followed it up with a disciplined, hard-fought 0-0 stalemate against Hungary. Like Ukraine, they sit on four points and share top place in the section, so this meeting is effectively a decider for who leads the group alone.

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Northern Ireland team news

Manager Michael O’Neill faces a major concern at the back, with Dan Ballard a serious doubt for the fixture. Ballard picked up an injury in the Georgia game and is considered unlikely to feature, with his status remaining uncertain right up to kick-off.

Even so, O’Neill has said the remainder of the squad are in “good shape” after their recent showings. Because of that, he is widely expected to name the same starting XI that held Hungary earlier in the week.

Keeping the same core unit and tactical setup should help Northern Ireland preserve their defensive organisation and overall cohesion.

In midfield, the youthful duo of Shea Charles and Ethan Galbraith are set to provide the platform, breaking up play and controlling the rhythm while the team operates on Slovak soil.