Michael O’Neill has chosen a 26-strong squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Luxembourg and Germany.
Northern Ireland will begin their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign with a game against Luxembourg at Stade de Luxembourg on Thursday 4 September (7.45pm kick-off BST).
Their second game in Group A of the European qualifiers will see them take on Germany at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion in Koln (Cologne) on Sunday 7 September (7.45pm BST).
The Northern Ireland manager’s panel for the two away games shows three changes from the senior men’s squad originally chosen for the friendlies against Denmark and Iceland in June.
Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell, who has joined Blackpool on a season-long loan from Birmingham City, is back in the panel. He has replaced Plymouth Argyle keeper Conor Hazard, who is currently recovering from a knee injury.
Bolton Wanderers captain Eoin Toal is also back. He has missed the past two international camps through injury.
Another returnee is Stevenage forward Jamie Reid, who has had a bright start for his club in EFL League One this season.
San Diego defender Paddy McNair, who was unable to play in the June friendlies after picking up a knock in squad training prior to the matches, will be aiming to add to his 75 caps after being named in the panel.
Missing out this time are Chesterfield striker Lee Bonis and Dundee defender Aaron Donnelly. They have dropped to the standby list.
Oxford United defender Ciaron Brown is unavailable due to injury. He damaged a knee ligament towards the end of last season. The 27-year-old is expected to return to action by the end of next month.
Also still unavailable is Jordan Thompson. The midfielder, who joined Preston North End from Stoke City earlier this summer, will be on the sidelines for several weeks following ankle surgery.
The Northern Ireland squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers is as follows:
Goalkeepers – Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday), Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers).
Defenders – Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard (both Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).
Midfielders – George Saville (Luton Town), Shea Charles (Southampton), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Caolan Boyd-Munce (Wycombe Wanderers), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Callum Marshall (West Ham United), Jamie Donley (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards - Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Dale Taylor (Blackpool), Ronan Hale (Ross County).
