On Friday, 15 November, Northern Ireland will face one of their biggest matches in years when they take on Belarus in the UEFA Nations League.
The two sides currently occupy the top two positions in League C, Group Three, so this game could go a long way to deciding which side gains automatic promotion to League B.
More importantly, however, the winner of this group has a good chance of earning themselves a playoff for the 2026 World Cup which makes this a mammoth occasion at Windsor Park.
How the bookies view it: The hosts start as favourites
Northern Ireland are expected to pick up the win that could secure them a playoff for the 2026 World Cup on Friday night. Betfred have priced a home win at 4/9 while a victory for Belarus has been priced at 13/2. The draw, which would also keep the hosts at the top of the table ahead of their final match against Luxembourg, has been priced at 11/4.
Recent head-to-head: Advantage Northern Ireland
This will be the third meeting between Northern Ireland and Belarus in the last five years. Northern Ireland boast an unbeaten record across those three matches with two wins and a draw which should fill them with confidence given that this match is more of a must-not-lose as opposed to a must-win. Belarus have never beaten Northern Ireland before.
Players to watch: Will the wingbacks be the difference makers?
On paper, this isn't a vintage Northern Ireland side and it isn't a patch on the team that made it through to the knockout stages of Euro 2016 eight years ago. However, their spirit can't be knocked hence why they find themselves on top of their Nations League group heading into the final round of fixtures.
What they do have, though, is a couple of talented young players coming through the ranks who could both shape how the team looks over the next decade. 20-year-old Brodie Spencer is currently making a name for himself at Huddersfield at wing-back and will almost certainly be playing in a higher division next season regardless of whether the Terriers secure promotion or not.
The star, however, is Liverpool's Conor Bradley who has proven to be a more than capable deputy for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The 21-year-old has been a regular substitute for Liverpool this season and is reportedly the main reason why the club aren't overly concerned about Alexander-Arnold's contract situation.
Predicted line-ups
Northern Ireland are still adapting to life without Jonny Evans and they now rely on Paddy McNair to be the experienced head at the heart of the defence. Belarus have a few players that could cause some damage on Friday night, including striker Nikita Korzun.
Northern Ireland: P.Charles – Hume, McNair, Brown – Bradley, S.Charles, McCann, Spencer – Price, Marshall, D.Charles
Belarus: Lapoukhov – Volkov, Politevich, Zabelin – Kovalev, Ebong, Yablonski, Pechenin – Antilevski, Korzun, Shikavka
Anything else catch the eye?
The last time these two sides met the match finished in an unspectacular 0-0 draw and in truth, neither side is blessed with a whole lot of attacking talent. Given the stakes, this should be another cagey affair – Under 2.5 goals to be scored has been priced at 8/15 by Betfred.
This UEFA Nations League match between Northern Ireland and Belarus will be played on Nov 15, 2024 and kick off at 19:45. Check below for our tipsters best Northern Ireland vs Belarus prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
