NI target challenge of Nations League promotion

Before this Nations League campaign, Northern Ireland had won just one of 16 games played in the second tier of the competition.

But after eight points from four games across September and October, all without conceding a goal, Michael O'Neill's side could end Saturday night as a League A side for the first time.

For that to come to pass, Hungary would need to lose to Georgia in Tbilisi [17:00 GMT] before a Northern Ireland win at home to Ukraine in the later kick-off.

Even if only they hold up their end of the bargain with a win at Windsor Park, the side would travel to Budapest on Tuesday night knowing a point would be good enough to top the group and seal promotion.

"You do look at the teams that do step up and it's tough. We've seen teams do that before and they find it very difficult," said O'Neill after stressing his side would be looking no further than the first game of this double-header.

"But for us to get that opportunity to play against those big teams in a competitive group stage would be great, it would be great for the development of the team.

"I wouldn't say the results at that point wouldn't be important, but I think we'd learn a lot."

Strong performance in the Nations League carries multiple rewards.

Finishing in the top two of their group - something Northern Ireland would confirm with a draw against Ukraine - would ensure O'Neill's side are among the second group of seeds when the draw for Euro 2028 qualifying is made in Belfast next month.

There is also the potential backdoor route into the qualification play-offs too, the same method used by Northern Ireland to find themselves just two games from the summer's World Cup despite finishing third in their group.

But for O'Neill promotion would also bring the less tangible benefit of showing his squad what is required to reach the very top.

O'Neill has previously sought out friendlies against the likes of Spain and France, drawing praise from his then Les Bleus counterpart Didier Deschamps for taking a game against the latter on the eve of the World Cup when others had not been so keen.

Midfielder Shea Charles previously spoke of how going up against the likes of Spain's Rodri in such fixtures helped "prepare" him for the Premier League before he got his £30m move to Fulham.

And O'Neill feels further exposure to such challenges, especially in regular competitive fixtures, would be hugely beneficial to others in his largely inexperienced side.

He added: "That's good for any player, but particularly young players, because it lets them see what's required, what's required to be a Spanish international and playing in the Champions League or playing your club football at the highest level in Europe.

"We want our players to aspire to try to get there too."

Barnsley midfielder Patrick Kelly scored his first international goal in that game against France, the strike coming on a night he shared the field with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.

The 22-year-old, who joined the Tykes in the summer of 2025 having not made a senior appearance for West Ham, has played all his club football in either League One, League Two, or the Irish Premiership.

"Playing those bigger nations, it would only improve us as a team," he said.

"You want to test yourself against the best. A couple of the lads have experienced it, they would have played Germany in the last [qualifying] campaign and done well, and I had it that night against France.

"Playing against the best players in the world, you see where you're at and the team as well."

Having missed that game against France through suspension, Blackburn Rovers defender Tom Atcheson's only international start coming into this campaign had been against Guinea, but the 20-year-old senses the team is ready for the step up.

"I think we do belong there and we're showing it," he said. "We want to have those challenges, we want to challenge ourselves against the best because it's exciting times.

"We know what we're capable of. To get into League A with those massive nations would be unbelievable, that's where we all want to get.

"We're looking forward to the next two games and hopefully to make that happen."