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by Devesh Jaganath in World Cup Predictions
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers are back in full swing this week, and on Friday, we head to Windsor Park in Belfast, where Northern Ireland will be playing host to Slovakia. The Green and White Army are in second place in Group A, while the Falcons lead the standings. Let’s get into the match prediction.
Northern Ireland are hoping to qualify for a World Cup for the first time since 1986. They are on three points after two games, thanks to an opening match victory over Luxembourg (3-1).
Norn Iron held Germany at 1-1 in the first half of their second match, with Isaac Price cancelling out Serge Gnabry’s opener, but Die Mannschaft pulled away to a 3-1 victory in the second period.
While the hosts have now lost three of their last five matches overall, they are unbeaten in their last seven home games across all competitions, six of which ended in victory.
Meanwhile, Slovakia last featured in a World Cup main draw in 2010 in South Africa, but they have made a very positive start to this qualification campaign with back-to-back wins.
The first was an against-the-odds 2-0 victory over Germany, while the second saw Stoke City’s Tomas Rigo score a dramatic winner in stoppage time to beat Luxembourg 1-0.
The Falcons have now won back-to-back games for the first time since September 2024, but their victory over Luxembourg followed four consecutive away-game defeats.
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The Best Betting Odds for Northern Ireland v Slovakia Match
| Bookmaker | 1 | X | 2 | Bonus up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2.63 | 2.9 | 3 |
|
|
2.6 | 3 | 3 |
|
|
2.45 | 2.88 | 2.9 |
|
|
2.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
|
|
2.45 | 3.05 | 3 |
|
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What is the prediction for the football match between Northern Ireland and Slovakia?
Our prediction for the Northern Ireland vs Slovakia match is: Northern Ireland draw no bet.
Probabilities according to our algorithm* of possible 1X2 football predictions and best odds for the match on 10/10/2025 between Northern Ireland and Slovakia in World Cup :
- The Sportytrader ⭐ algorithm estimates a probability of 54.24% for a win of Northern Ireland against Slovakia with odds of 2.63 at Bet365.
- The probability according to Sportytrader ⭐ for a draw between Northern Ireland vs Slovakia is 12.99% with odds of 3.15 at 22bet.
- Our prediction model gives a 32.76% chance ⭐ for a win of Slovakia vs Northern Ireland with odds of 3.27 at 22bet.
Northern Ireland vs Slovakia Form
Northern Ireland and Slovakia's standings in the World Cup
| Teams | Pts | P | W | D | L | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
|
6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
|
2
|
3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Northern Ireland and Slovakia Last Matches
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
3/6 (50%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
7 Sep 2025 - World Cup
4 Sep 2025 - World Cup
10 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
7 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
25 Mar 2025 - International Friendlies
21 Mar 2025 - International Friendlies
5/6 (83%)
1/6 (17%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
10 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
21 Mar 2025 - International Friendlies
15 Nov 2024 - UEFA Nations League
15 Oct 2024 - UEFA Nations League
5 Sep 2024 - UEFA Nations League
11 Jun 2024 - International Friendlies
1/6 (17%)
2/6 (33%)
3/6 (50%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
7 Sep 2025 - World Cup
4 Sep 2025 - World Cup
7 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
25 Mar 2025 - International Friendlies
18 Nov 2024 - UEFA Nations League
12 Oct 2024 - UEFA Nations League
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
3/6 (50%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
7 Sep 2025 - World Cup
4 Sep 2025 - World Cup
10 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
7 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
23 Mar 2025 - UEFA Nations League
20 Mar 2025 - UEFA Nations League
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
4 Sep 2025 - World Cup
20 Mar 2025 - UEFA Nations League
19 Nov 2024 - UEFA Nations League
11 Oct 2024 - UEFA Nations League
8 Sep 2024 - UEFA Nations League
26 Jun 2024 - Euro
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
4/6 (67%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
7 Sep 2025 - World Cup
10 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
7 Jun 2025 - International Friendlies
23 Mar 2025 - UEFA Nations League
16 Nov 2024 - UEFA Nations League
14 Oct 2024 - UEFA Nations League
Northern Ireland vs Slovakia Stats: Head to Head (H2H)
12 Nov 2020 - Euro
Northern Ireland vs Slovakia last Lineups
Formation : 3 - 5 - 2
Formation : 4 - 3 - 3
Most goals and assists
Northern Ireland
Slovakia
I. Price
(1 Goals)
,
J. Devenny
(1 Goals)
,
S. Charles
(1 Goals)
,
J. Reid
(1 Goals)
T. Rigo
(1 Goals)
,
D. Strelec
(1 Goals)
,
D. Hancko
(1 Goals)
Northern Ireland - Slovakia Key Points
- Northern Ireland are unbeaten in their last seven home games.
- Northern Ireland have kept clean sheets in seven of their last 10 home matches.
- Slovakia have lost four of their last five away games.
- The last two matches between these sides ended level in regulation time.
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Our Northern Ireland vs Slovakia Prediction
Slovakia made an excellent start to their World Cup qualification campaign by beating Germany, but that win came on their home patch. They were much less impressive in their first away game against Luxembourg, where they needed a stoppage-time goal to get the result.
Northern Ireland may not have been able to overcome Germany on the road, but they have not lost a home game in two years. We fancy the hots in this one, but will err on the side of caution in the event of a draw result. Our Northern Ireland vs Slovakia prediction is Northern Ireland draw no bet.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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