Northern Ireland’s Under-17s produced an excellent performance when defeating Sweden U17s in a friendly played in Spain.
Competition
U17 International Friendly
Scoreline
Northern Ireland U17s 2-1 Sweden U17s
Scorers
Northern Ireland: Eamonn Tohill (25’), Joel Kerr (41’ pen)
Sweden: Oliver Mansson (81’)
Venue
Pinatar Arena, Murcia
Date
18 February 2026
Team News
The Northern Ireland men’s Under-17 team are playing two international friendlies in Spain this week. The matches against Sweden and Norway in Murcia are preparation games for the second and final stage of qualifiers for U17 Euro 2026.
U17s boss Andy Waterworth has chosen a 24-strong squad for the games at the Pinatar Arena. The U17 panel features 15 players who currently attend or have attended the Irish FA JD Academy.
In the elite round U17 Euro qualifiers – they are being staged next month – Northern Ireland will be up against Spain, Turkiye and Scotland in Group A6.
How it happened
Northern Ireland produced a disciplined, organised and energetic display against a strong Sweden team.
The front three of captain Joel Kerr (pictured), Eamonn Tohill and Luke Hawe caused all sorts of problems for the Swedish defence with their slick combinations.
Waterworth’s team deservedly took the lead when Tohill got on the end of a Daniel McCarron flick-on and slammed the ball home from 18 yards.
Then Kerr cleverly jinked his way past a few defenders before being upended inside the area. The skipper dusted himself down before stepping up and firing the spot kick past Swedish keeper Vincent Arnstrom to make it 2-0.
Northern Ireland had chances to extend their lead in the first half, however they had to settle for the two-goal cushion.
Half-time: Northern Ireland U17s 2-0 Sweden U17s
The boys in green and white continued to produce some quality football after the break and limited the Swedes to very few chances.
Tohill came extremely close to notching his second goal before substitute Michael Mulholland produced a fine effort.
In the closing stages Sweden grabbed a consolation goal through substitute Oliver Mansson.
Afterwards Waterworth said his team had produced a “top, top performance” against a Swedish side who rarely lose.
He added: “The boys deserve tremendous credit. It was a fantastic performance from all the players involved.”
Next up for the U17s is the friendly against the Norwegians on Saturday (21 February).
Full-time: Northern Ireland U17s 2-1 Sweden U17s
Line-ups
Northern Ireland: Phoenix Blayney, David Green, Shea McGarry, Paul Stanfield, Daniel McCarron, Sonny Trainor, Charlie McConnell, Finlay Ross, Luke Hawe, Eamonn Tohill, Joel Kerr (captain).
Substitutes: Matthew Belshaw (GK), Kyle Chivers (GK), Alfie Wilson, Jake Drewett, Freddie Murdock, Alfie Anderson, Will Haselhurst, Liam Kelly, Mason Ayre, Zak Magowan, Jack May, Michael Mulholland.
Sweden: Vincent Arnstrom, Elias Khalil, Lino Hyppanen, Hugo Lindskog, Gabriel Santos, Leonel Eklund, Alexander Odefalk, Lucas Persson, Oskar Stalfors, Leon Bryhn, Alexander Johansson (captain).
Substitutes: Benjamin Norell (GK), Hampus Thorsson, Oliver Mansson, Samin Mujevic, Elliot Appring, Beppe Bossman, Nikolas Jovanovic, Jakob Jensen, Vidar Skoglund, Alexander Andersson, Oliver Djurci.
Action from Pinatar Arena
