Northern Ireland will finish third in Group A of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers after a narrow 1-0 defeat to Slovakia in Kosice, but manager Michael O’Neill remains focused on the upcoming play-offs, where his side will have a chance to reach the tournament for the first time in 40 years.

Despite a valiant campaign, Northern Ireland’s fate was sealed not only by their own performances but also by Croatia’s 3-1 victory over the Faroe Islands, which impacted the seeding for March’s play-offs. Nevertheless, the squad’s impressive Nations League performance in 2024 earned them a valuable play-off spot, underlining the importance of their long-term consistency.

The match in Slovakia was a frustrating one for O’Neill and his players. The visitors had been on course for a point that could have allowed them to claim second spot directly in Group A, without needing to rely on the Nations League. However, a late goal from Slovakia’s Tomas Bobcek—scored in a contentious moment—sealed the defeat, leaving Northern Ireland with their “worst performance” of an otherwise encouraging qualifying campaign.

Personnel challenges played a significant role. Key midfielder Shea Charles was absent, alongside Ali McCann and Daniel Ballard, forcing O’Neill to adapt his lineup. Despite solid performances from Brad Lyons and George Saville, the squad lacked some of its strongest players on paper. O’Neill noted the importance of these absences, adding that the team hopes to have a full-strength squad for the March play-offs.

“The one thing we’ve learnt during this campaign is that you can lose a player at a moment’s notice,” O’Neill said. “You’re never in control of that, but hopefully come March, the challenges we’ve had through this group with players missing, we’ll not have, and we’ll be as strong as we can be.”

Northern Ireland’s defensive struggles, particularly from set-pieces, have been a recurring issue. Three of the five goals conceded during qualifying came from set-pieces, including Bobcek’s winner. Former Northern Ireland midfielder Jim Magilton criticized the goal, highlighting the keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell’s error, but acknowledged Slovakia’s deserved win.

Away form has also been a concern for O’Neill’s squad. Since his return, Northern Ireland has secured only a handful of victories on foreign soil, including a 2-0 win over San Marino in March 2023 and a 3-1 triumph in Luxembourg in September. Matches against stronger opponents, like Slovakia, have proven particularly challenging.

Looking ahead to the March play-offs, Northern Ireland are likely to face one of the top-seeded teams, potentially Italy, Poland, or Turkey. O’Neill remains confident that his squad can draw on their experiences in challenging away fixtures, using both the positives and setbacks as preparation.

“Every time you step onto the pitch as an international player, you learn, and that’s valuable,” O’Neill said. “The more international football we can get into these boys, the better they’ll become. We’re probably well ahead of where we thought we’d be at this point of time.”

Northern Ireland’s journey to the 2026 World Cup continues to be one of resilience and tactical growth. While the defeat in Slovakia was a setback, the play-offs present an opportunity to make history and secure a place at football’s biggest stage for the first time in four decades.