Northern Ireland vs Ukraine Preview & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Nations League | League B
by Alex Sarwar ·
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Northern Ireland are aiming to keep hold of top spot in their group, while Ukraine are looking to close the gap in this penultimate round of matches.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC Two / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website / USA – FOX Sports streaming platforms
Key stats
- Northern Ireland won the only previous Nations League meeting between the sides, 3-0 in Trnava on Matchday 3 of this edition.
- Coming into Matchday 5, Northern Ireland top Group B2 with eight points, one ahead of Hungary, with Ukraine third on four points.
- Northern Ireland are the only team yet to concede a goal in the 2026/27 Nations League, keeping four clean sheets in four matches – their longest run of clean sheets in 26 Nations League matches.
- Northern Ireland are unbeaten in eight Nations League matches (W4 D4), their longest unbeaten run in the competition.
- Northern Ireland are unbeaten in their last seven home Nations League matches (W4 D3) and have kept clean sheets in the last five of them.
- That is a far cry from Northern Ireland's early Nations League record, when they failed to win any of their first 14 matches (D4 L10).
- Northern Ireland topped Group C3 in 2024/25 with 11 points, a campaign that included their biggest Nations League win, 5-0 vs Bulgaria in Belfast.
- Ukraine have lost their last two Nations League matches, 3-0 vs Northern Ireland and 2-1 vs Hungary, after taking four points from their first two away games (1-0 in Hungary and 0-0 in Georgia).
- Ukraine have scored only two goals in four matches in this edition.
- Ukraine have played nine Nations League matches at neutral venues (W3 D3 L3), including both of their home matches in this edition, in Trnava.
- Ukraine's biggest Nations League win is 5-0 away to Armenia in September 2022.
- Isaac Price has scored five goals in ten Nations League appearances for Northern Ireland.
Will Northern Ireland finally concede a goal?
Open poll and resultsNorthern Ireland vs Ukraine prediction
Northern Ireland are battling to secure a historic promotion to League A, which is now well within reach for Michael O'Neill and his team. With two games left to play, the Green and White army sit top of the table, one point above Hungary and four above Ukraine, their opponents here in Belfast.
The Ukrainians more than likely need to win if they are to stand any chance of a top two finish, with Hungary taking on struggling Georgia. But as you would expect from an O'Neill coached Northern Irish side, the hosts will prove extremely difficult to break down, having still not conceded a goal in this group stage.
Expect another low-scoring, tight battle involving the Group B2 leaders and as has been the case in all bar one of their four games played so far, back under 2.5 goals across 90 minutes.
Northern Ireland vs Ukraine tip: Under 2.5 goals
