Tomas Bobcek’s 91st-minute winner condemned Northern Eire to defeat and set Slovakia up for a winner-takes-all decider with Germany in 2026 World Cup qualifying on an evening when the guests secured a play-off place courtesy of different outcomes.
Croatia’s victory at house to the Faroe Islands means Michael O’Neill’s facet will contest a two-legged decider to succeed in subsequent 12 months’s match within the US, Canada and Mexico as a result of they are going to be one of many highest-placing Nations League group winners in European qualifying.
Slovakia, who should win in Germany on Monday to keep away from the play-offs, had a Lukas Haraslin strike dominated out for offside in the course of the second half earlier than David Strelec discovered the web however was thwarted following a Video Assistant Referee evaluate.
Substitute Bobcek made amends to place the Falcons stage on factors with the group leaders, firing the close-range winner from Laszlo Benes’ nook earlier than Northern Eire centre-back Dan Ballard was dismissed for a second warning.
2026 World Cup playoffs dates
The highest staff from every of the 12 European Qualifier teams proceeds mechanically to the finals, which shall be expanded to 48 groups.
The 12 runners-up in every group will be part of 4 Nations League groups within the play-offs, which shall be drawn from pots primarily based on groups’ information in the course of the marketing campaign and happen on March 26 and 31 2026.
The video games will comprise single-leg semi-finals and finals, with the draw for the World Cup finals going down in December 2025. The match runs from June 11 till July 19 2026.
Slovakia lineup vs Northern Eire
Defender David Hancko and midfielder Stanislav Lobotka returned for Slovakia however midfielders Mario Sauer and Ondrej Duda and ahead Adrian Kapralik have been out.
Slovakia beginning XI: Martin Dubravka, Adam Obert, Norbert Gyomber, Milan Skriniar, David Strelec, David Hancko, Lukas Haraslin, Tomas Rigo, David Duris, Matus Bero, Stanislav Lobotka
Slovakia substitutes: Marek Rodak, Dominik Takac, Peter Pekarik, Denis Vavro, Ivan Mesik, Leo Sauer, Tomas Bobcek, Robert Bozenik, Laszlo Benes, Lubomir Tupta, Patrik Hrosovsky, Ivan Schranz
Northern Eire lineup vs Slovakia
Northern Eire had a bunch of harm points, with first-choice goalkeeper Pierce Charles nonetheless unavailable and his brother, midfielder Shea, absent from the midfield with a hamstring downside.
Ali McCann was out with a damaged arm and fellow midfielder Ethan Galbraith was banned. Defender Brodie Spencer was out however Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley was again from suspension as captain.
Dion Charles got here in for Jamie Reid, with Ruairi McConville in defence and Brad Lyons and George Saville in midfield.
Northern Eire beginning XI: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Trai Hume, Daniel Ballard, Ruairi McConville, Paddy McNair, Justin Devenny, Conor Bradley, George Saville, Brad Lyons, Isaac Value, Dion Charles
Northern Eire substitutes: Luke Southwood, Conor Hazard, Jamal Lewis, Terry Devlin, Callum Marshall, Jamie Donley, Paul Smyth, Jamie Reid, Patrick Kelly, Jamie McDonnell, Josh Magennis, Ciaron Brown
