Northern Ireland's women's football team embarks on their World Cup play-off journey with a two-legged tie against Portugal, starting with a home match at Inver Park. The team aims for their first-ever World Cup appearance, facing a challenging path as they are one of the lowest-ranked European sides in the playoffs.
Despite past defeats to Portugal in Euro 2025 qualifying, players like Natalie Johnson and Rebecca Holloway express confidence in their squad's balance of experience and youth. They believe that the upcoming matches present a winnable opportunity, especially on home turf.