Sarah McFadden made a remarkable return for the Northern Ireland women’s football team on Friday, entering as a substitute against Iceland in the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off. The 38-year-old defender received a rapturous reception from fans, highlighting the admiration for her journey back to international football just six months after giving birth to her second child.

A Milestone 107th Cap for McFadden

Stepping onto the field, McFadden earned her 107th cap, marking her first appearance for Northern Ireland since February 2024. She immediately showcased her defensive prowess, landing a crunching sliding tackle on Sveindis Jonsdottir shortly after her introduction.

Although Northern Ireland lost the match 2-0, leaving them with an uphill battle in the second leg, McFadden reflected on her “really long” journey back to fitness and international football, emphasizing the determination and hard work required to reach this milestone.

Return to Fitness with Durham WSL 2

McFadden’s comeback began with her WSL 2 club Durham, where she completed pre-season and played her first full 90 minutes on 25 September. A defensive injury crisis in the Northern Ireland squad created an opportunity for her to rejoin the national setup. In the first leg against Iceland, she contributed 32 minutes of play against an experienced side who had featured at Euro 2025.

“It’s incredible,” McFadden told BBC Sport NI. “I’ve worked really hard, and in the back of my mind, it has always been for Northern Ireland. As soon as I stepped on the line in July [in pre-season], I was miles behind everyone. All I kept thinking was hopefully one day I’ll put the green shirt on, and it’s been really, really hard, but I knew I would get here in the end.”

She also expressed gratitude to manager Tanya Oxtoby for believing in her, saying, “I’m grateful to Tanya for picking me. She didn’t have to, but that’s a testament to her and what she believes in this squad, and I’m really grateful to get to this point.”

Mentoring the Next Generation

The Northern Ireland squad has seen significant changes since McFadden’s last inclusion, with younger players stepping in following the retirements of Marissa Callaghan, Rachel Furness, and Rachel Dugdale. As the only centurion in the current panel, McFadden emphasized the value of her experience and her desire to mentor younger players.

“I’ve always got that experience,” she explained. “Even if I’m not at peak fitness, I will always do the best for Northern Ireland and our group. I hope I’ve helped them this week, especially Abi Sweetlove. She’s at the start of her career, an unbelievable centre-half, the future, and hopefully I’ll be able to guide her along because someone helped me many times, and I want to do the same.”

Looking Ahead: Second Leg Against Iceland

Next up, Northern Ireland travels to Reykjavik on Tuesday, aiming to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg in Ballymena. Despite failing to register a shot on target in the opening match, McFadden remains optimistic about their chances if the team plays with belief and confidence.

“We need a little bit more belief,” she said. “We were able to get into their final third more in the second half, and with that confidence, we have a chance. If we score early, the pressure shifts onto them, and hopefully we can deliver another strong performance.”