Northern Ireland at the World Cup
The Northern Ireland national football team have appeared in the finals of the FIFA World Cup on three occasions. Their best performance was in their first appearance at the 1958 World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals. They also qualified in 1982 and 1986.
Trivia
- Northern Irish players were originally ordered not to play in a 1958 finals match as the match was held on a Sunday. The Northern Irish FA reminded their players that it was against the Irish law to play the two 1958 First Round matches scheduled on the 'holy day'. The players protested, and the Northern Irish FA scrapped the rules at the very last minute. They won the first match, drew the second, and reached the quarter-finals.
- Northern Ireland is the smallest nation to reach quarter finals, which they did in 1958 and 1982.
- Northern Ireland's Norman Whiteside is the youngest ever finals player, being just 17 years and 41 days when he took the field against Yugoslavia in 1982.
Related Pages
- Ireland at the World Cup
- List of all countries who have participated in the World Cup
- FIFA World Cup Home
- About Sport in Northern Ireland, and Sport in Ireland
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