The Northern Ireland men’s Under-17 team are set to play two international friendlies in Spain this week.
The matches against Sweden and Norway at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia are preparation games for the second and final stage of qualifiers for U17 Euro 2026.
Those qualifiers are being staged next month when Andy Waterworth’s U17s will be up against Spain, Turkiye and Scotland in Group A6.
First up this week is a game against the Swedes on Wednesday (18 February) which has a 5pm CET kick-off.
It will followed by the friendly against the Norwegians on Saturday (21 February). It is due to start at 3pm CET.
This spring a total of 28 teams in Round 2 League A (elite round) will compete in seven groups for seven places alongside hosts Estonia in the U17 Euro 2026 final tournament between 25 May and 7 June, as well as Europe's berths in the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.
Northern Ireland’s U17s booked their League A spot in November at a mini tournament in Cyprus. They finished second in U17 Euro 2026 Qualifying Round Group 11 behind the Cypriots, with whom they drew 0-0. Waterworth’s side also defeated Armenia (2-1) and drew with Finland (1-1).
Waterworth (pictured) has chosen a 24-strong squad for this week’s games at the Pinatar Arena. The U17 panel features 15 players who currently attend or have attended the Irish FA JD Academy.
The squad features:
Goalkeepers – Phoenix Blayney (Larne), Matthew Belshaw (Glentoran), Kyle Chivers (Ballymena United).
Defenders – David Green, Shea McGarry and Paul Stanfield (all Cliftonville), Alfie Mulvenna and Sonny Trainor (both Larne), Daniel McCarron (Dungannon Swifts), Alfie Wilson (Hearts).
Midfielders – Jake Drewett (Bournemouth), Freddie Murdock (Everton), Alfie Anderson (Cliftonville), Charlie McConnell (UCD), Finlay Ross (Linfield), Will Haselhurst (Middlesbrough), Liam Kelly (Derry City), Mason Ayre (Glentoran).
Forwards – Joel Kerr (West Ham United), Zak Magowan (Glentoran), Luke Hawe (Southampton), Michael Mulholland (Crusaders), Jack May (Larne), Eamonn Tohill (Cliftonville).