Northern Ireland national football team records and statistics
This page details Northern Ireland national football team records and statistics; the most capped players, the players with the most goals, and Northern Ireland's match record by opponent and decade.
Player records
Most capped players
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Players with an equal number of caps are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
Top goalscorers
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Players with an equal number of goals are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
Most captaincies
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Captaincy appearances are only awarded to players who were assigned the captaincy at the start of an international game. Players with an equal number of captaincies are ranked in chronological order of reaching the milestone.
Most clean sheets
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
A goalkeeper is awarded a clean sheet if he does not concede a goal during his time on the pitch.
Hat-tricks
The result is presented with Northern Ireland's score first.
Red cards
The result is presented with Northern Ireland's score first.
Individual and Team records
Age records
Youngest player to make debut: Samuel Johnston – 15 years and 154 days, 18 February 1882 vs England
Oldest player to play a game: Elisha Scott – 42 years and 200 days, 11 March 1936 vs Wales
Youngest player to play at World Cup finals: Norman Whiteside – 17 years and 41 days, 17 June 1982 vs Yugoslavia
Oldest player to play at World Cup finals: Pat Jennings – 41 years and 0 days, 12 June 1986 vs Brazil
Youngest player to score a goal: Samuel Johnston – 15 years and 161 days, 25 February 1882 vs Wales
Goal records
First Irish goal: Samuel Johnston – 15 years and 161 days, 25 February 1882 vs Wales
Most goals scored in one game by a player: 6 – Joe Bambrick, 1 February 1930 vs Wales
Firsts
First International: 18 February 1882 vs England
First home international: 18 February 1882 vs England
First win: 12 March 1887 vs Wales
First overseas opponent: Norway, 25 May 1922
First win over an overseas opponent: 1 May 1957 vs Portugal
Streaks
Most consecutive victories: 5
26 March 2017 – 4 September 2017
21 March 2019 – 5 September 2019
Most consecutive matches without defeat: 12
29 March 2015 – 4 June 2016
Most consecutive draws: 4
11 September 2012 – 6 February 2013
Most consecutive matches without a draw: 24
26 January 1884 – 28 March 1891
Most consecutive matches without victory: 21
5 November 1947 – 7 November 1953
Most consecutive defeats: 11
26 January 1884 – 19 February 1887
3 October 1959 – 7 October 1961
Most consecutive matches scoring: 13
4 November 1933 – 16 March 1938
Most consecutive matches without scoring: 13
27 March 2002 – 11 October 2003
Most consecutive matches conceding a goal: 46
18 February 1882 – 27 March 1897
Most consecutive matches without conceding a goal: 6
27 March 1985 – 26 February 1986
Biggest wins
Heaviest defeats
Competition Records
FIFA World Cup
Qualification
First match: 1 October 1949 vs Scotland
First goal: Sammy Smyth vs Scotland, 1 October 1949
Finals
First finals: Sweden 1958
Total number of times qualified for the finals: 3 (1958), (1982) and (1986)
First game: 8 June 1958 vs Czechoslovakia
First goal: Wilbur Cush vs Czechoslovakia, 8 June 1958
Most Successful final: 1958 – Quarter finals
World Cup top goal scorer: 5
Peter McParland (1958)
UEFA European Championship
Qualification
First match: 10 October 1962 vs Poland
First goal: Derek Dougan vs Poland, 10 October 1962
Finals
First finals: France 2016
Total number of times qualified for the finals: 1 (2016)
First game: 12 June 2016 vs Poland
First goal: Gareth McAuley vs Ukraine, 16 June 2016
Most Successful final: 2016 - Round of 16
European Championship scorer: 1
Gareth McAuley (2016)
Niall McGinn (2016)
UEFA Nations League
Qualification
First match: 8 September 2018 vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
First goal: Will Grigg vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, 8 September 2018
Rankings
Highest FIFA Rank: 20 (September 2017)
Lowest FIFA Rank: 129 (September 2012)
Highest Elo Rank: 5 (1882)
Lowest Elo Rank: 114 (11 October 2013)
Performance
Performance by competition
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
Performance by manager
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
Performance by venue
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Performance by confederation
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
Performance by decade
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
All-time records
Head to head records
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Positive Record Neutral Record Negative Record
Statistics include official FIFA recognised matches only
FIFA members yet to play against Northern Ireland
As of 26 March 2024after the match against Scotland.
Competitive record
ChampionsRunners-upThird Place Fourth Place
FIFA World Cup
UEFA European Championship
UEFA Nations League
British Home Championship
Minor tournaments
Honours
Titles
British Home Championship
**Winners (3): 1914 (as Ireland), 1980, 1984
**Shared (5): 1903, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1964
FIFA Rankings
Last updated 27 March 2023
Notes
References
External links
Irish Football Association – Northern Ireland Football official site
Northern Ireland Stats & Statistics
RSSSF archive of international results 1882–
RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers