Northern Ireland’s Under-19s drew 0-0 with North Macedonia in a Euro qualifier staged in North Macedonia.
Competition
U19 Euro 2027 Qualifiers Round 2
Scoreline
North Macedonia U19s 0-0 Northern Ireland U19s
Venue
Stadium Kukus, Turnovo
Date
11 November 2026
Team News
Northern Ireland’s Under-19s are facing Switzerland, North Macedonia and Malta in round two of the qualifiers for UEFA U19 Euro 2027 this month, with North Macedonia hosting the games in the League B Group 5 mini tournament.
Under a new format there are now three rounds of qualifiers for each edition of UEFA’s U19 Euros.
In League B in R2 a total of 26 teams were drawn into five groups of four teams and two groups of three teams. All group winners in League B are promoted to League A for Round 3, which is set to be played in the spring. The seven group winners in R3 League A will then join hosts Czechia in the final tournament next summer.
Northern Ireland U19s boss Gareth McAuley has chosen a 22-player panel to compete in the three B5 qualifiers, the first of which was against the hosts in Turnovo in the south-east of North Macedonia.
How it happened
North Macedonia defender Anes Abdurahmani had the first attempt on goal, however his strike from a free-kick failed to trouble Northern Ireland keeper Daniel O’Keefe.
Then Northern Ireland attacker Sidney Eldred missed a chance before midfielder Jay McEvoy’s strike was off target.
North Macedonia forward Ditmir Hodja fired a free-kick goalwards, but again he did not test O’Keefe.
On 31 minutes McEvoy was in the thick of it once more and he steered a shot past the upright.
North Macedonia striker Ivan Tanchev screwed an effort wide before Joel Kerr forced North Macedonia keeper Aleksandar Trajkov into a save as a niggly first half peppered with fouls drew to a close.
Half-time: North Macedonia U19s 0-0 Northern Ireland U19s
Hodja had the first chance after the restart, however he was unable to get his shot on target.
On 53 minutes McEvoy’s free-kick was met by defender Calum Anderson and Trajkov pulled off a fine save to keep his effort out.
Down the other end O’Keefe was called into action to deny Hodja as the game swung from end to end. And then the Northern Ireland keeper saved a well-struck free-kick from substitute Aleksandar Grashevski.
Northern Ireland substitute George Feeney was off target with an effort, while a Tanchev strike went wide, too.
On 80 minutes midfielder Kalum Thompson had a shot blocked as Northern Ireland went in search of the opener.
North Macedonia attacker Muhamed Kurtishi fired in a shot that was blocked before Thompson hit the woodwork.
In added time a Coist Walker delivery from a corner found fellow defender Shea McGarry inside the area, however he could not provide the finishing touch.
Game two for Northern Ireland is on Saturday 14 November against Malta at Stadium Mladost in nearby Strumica (1pm CET start),
Full-time: North Macedonia U19s 0-0 Northern Ireland U19s
Line-ups
North Macedonia: Aleksandar Trajkov (captain), Anes Abdurahmani, Alban Rochi, Filip Cvetkovski, Kristian Markovski, Bojan Velkov, Jakov Stojkovski, Gabriel Taleski, Ditmir Hodja, Ivan Tanchev, Muhamed Kurtishi.
Substitutes: (used) Aleksandar Grashevski, Jovan Mrmachovski, Muhammed Mustafi; (unused) Pavel Grbevski (GK), Mateo Kesikj, Jordan Damevski, Antian Emini, Lorent Zhaku, Lavdrim Kasami.
Northern Ireland: Daniel O’Keefe, Callum Leacock (captain), Shea McGarry, Calum Anderson, Coist Walker, Jay McEvoy, Joel Kerr, Troy Savage, Sidney Eldred, Alfie Wilson, Kalum Thompson.
Substitutes: (used) George Feeney, Jahmi Kellyman, Luke Hawe; (unused) Phoenix Blayney, Alfie McIlroy, Coran Madden, Paul McGovern, Broghan Sewell, Matthew Burns.
