Comments and predictions for Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland: Late equalizer
The match between Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland World Cup Qualifiers takes place at 1:45 a.m. on September 5. Nghe An Newspaper analyzes performance, makes football comments and predicts the score.
Latest Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland team information
Northern Ireland's injury woes were compounded by the withdrawal of Paul Smyth, adding to a long list of absentees. O'Neill was already without defenders Daniel Ballard, Brodie Spencer, Ciaron Brown, midfielder Jordan Thompson and goalkeepers Pierce Charles and Conor Hazard.
Bailey Peacock-Farrell is back in the squad and will compete with Luke Southwood for the starting spot, while the uncapped trio of Kofi Balmer, Ryan Johnson and Jamie McDonnell are also making their debuts.
Isaac Price is Northern Ireland's biggest bright spot, with seven goals in his last seven games.
On the Luxembourg side, key striker Danel Sinani (St. Pauli) will lead the attack, while Gerson Rodrigues – who scored against Northern Ireland last fall – is still serving a suspension from the Luxembourg Football Federation.
Veteran goalkeeper Anthony Moris, who recently moved to the Saudi Pro League, is back after refusing to join the team in June. In addition, young striker Yvandro Borges Sanches (Borussia Monchengladbach) is also back after injury, in the first list of new coach Jeff Strasser to replace Luc Holtz.
Latest expected lineup Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland
Luxembourg:Morris; Dzogovic, Korac, Carlson, Jans; Bohnert, Barreiro, Moreira, V. Thill; Sanchez, Sinani
Northern Ireland:Peacock-Farrell; McConville, McNair, Hume; Bradley, McCann, S. Charles, Saville; Galbraith, Price; D. Charles
Latest football commentary on Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland
The 2026 World Cup will mark 40 years since Northern Ireland last participated in the world's biggest football festival, and also a decade after the historic Euro 2016.
In the intervening years, the team has often struggled, but giving opportunities to younger players coupled with a recent Nations League group-topping finish has brought confidence to the squad.
In addition, the new qualifying format also brings hope: in addition to the group winners who have direct tickets and the group runners-up who enter the play-offs, the four Nations League group winners who do not make it to the top 2 of the qualifying round will also have the opportunity to compete for a play-off ticket.
Northern Ireland have won seven of their last 15 games, including a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland in June – a marked improvement under manager Michael O'Neill, who guided the team to Euro 2016 in his first spell in charge.
While most European teams began qualifying in March, Northern Ireland had to wait almost half a year to begin their campaign. In his third World Cup qualifying campaign as a head coach, O'Neill faces a huge challenge in Group A with Slovakia and Germany.
Before their trip to Cologne this weekend, Northern Ireland will face Luxembourg again – less than a year after the two sides drew 2-2 in the Nations League in November 2024.
That day, Luxembourg pulled off a spectacular draw despite being two goals down. However, in seven previous meetings with Northern Ireland, they have won just once.
That was a historic 3-2 home win in 2013 in the Brazil World Cup qualifiers. However, Les Lions Rouges have now gone seven consecutive official matches without a win, equalling their worst run since 2017.
Their friendly form has also been inconsistent: they opened 2025 with a surprise win over Sweden, but then lost to Slovakia and Switzerland, and drew goalless with the Republic of Ireland.
Welcoming Northern Ireland this time, Luxembourg considers this the brightest opportunity to win full points in Group A.
Latest Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland score prediction
Based on the above football comments, we and the world's leading football sites have given the results of the match.Luxembourg vs Northern Irelandas follows:
- Sportsmole:Luxembourg 2-1 Northern Ireland
- WhoScore:Luxembourg 2-2 Northern Ireland
- Our newspaper predicts:Luxembourg 1-1 Northern Ireland
When and where to watch Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland live?
To watch live the match Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland in the World Cup Qualifiers taking place at 1:45 a.m. on September 5, viewers can watch it on online sports channels. Wishing viewers happy moments of watching football.
