Northern Ireland have the chance to secure promotion to the top tier of the Nations League for the first time as they prepare to face Ukraine and Hungary in their final two Group B2 matches.
Michael O’Neill’s youthful side top the pool with eight points from four games, leaving them one point clear of Hungary and four above Ukraine in third. Ukraine are next up for the Irish in Belfast and if results go their way on Saturday, then they could have guaranteed top spot before travelling to Budapest to face Hungary on Tuesday.
O’Neill said: “The players have a massive carrot. They have the opportunity to finish top of the group, to go to Nations League A , the highest level of international football we can play at. That’s a massive carrot for them and it would be a huge achievement if they could achieve that.”
Northern Ireland have yet to concede in what has been a low-scoring group, with only nine goals recorded in the eight matches so far, and we think it will be a similar story this weekend. However, we fancy the hosts to just edge it, and our opening Northern Ireland vs Ukraine prediction is a home win with under 2.5 goals in total @ 16/5.
Betting Odds
Northern Ireland vs Ukraine Betting Odds – Nations League 2026-27
Result | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Northern Ireland | 7/5 | 41.7% |
Ukraine | 11/5 | 31.3% |
Draw | 19/10 | 34.5% |
*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.
Northern Ireland are 7/5 favourites to beat Ukraine, who are 11/5 for the win, with the draw at 19/10.
How to Watch
How to watch Northern Ireland vs Ukraine
The Nations League Group B2 match is scheduled to begin at 19:45 GMT on Saturday and will be shown live on BBC2.
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Form Guides
Northern Ireland form guide
Northern Ireland have been as tough to beat as ever at their Windsor Park fortress, where they have lost just once in over two years, but it is their away form which has given them the edge in Group B2.
At home O’Neill’s men have played out goalless draws with Hungary and Georgia , but on the road they have beaten the Georgians 1-0 thanks to a stoppage-time Shea Charles winner before downing Ukraine 3-0 in Slovakia . Ciaron Brown scored twice in that match, his first international goals, and the Oxford defender is 10/1 to add another this weekend.
However, we don’t expect there to be a deluge of goals. Northern Ireland have only scored once in their last four matches at Windsor Park , and that was from a Jamie Donley penalty. Looking at the Northern Ireland vs Ukraine odds, Donley , who has scored four times for League One Luton this season, is 11/4 to notch another against Ukraine.
Ukraine form guide
Ukraine played one season in Nations League A back in 2020-21 but have spent every other campaign at B level and it looks set to be more of the same for them. Despite boasting a squad that includes players from the Premier League, Ligue 1, Serie A and LaLiga , Ukraine are third in the group on four points, four behind Northern Ireland and two above rock-bottom Georgia .
Andrea Maldera’s side started on a high after beating Hungary 1-0 in Budapest thanks to a Danylo Sikan goal but they have been on a downward trajectory since then. They drew 0-0 in Georgia before suffering back-to-back defeats at their adopted home ground in Trnava , losing 3-0 to Northern Ireland and 2-1 to Hungary .
Experienced striker Roman Yaremchuk had briefly drawn Ukraine level with an 83rd-minute equaliser against the Hungarians and the on-loan Lyon man, who is the fourth-highest scorer in his country’s history with 19 goals, is 5/2 to notch again in Belfast. Bologna hitman Artem Dovbyk is also 5/2, having been called up to replace the injured Matviy Ponomarenko. But we will conclude our Northern Ireland vs Ukraine betting tips by backing the home side to keep a clean sheet @ 6/4.
Betting Tips
Northern Ireland vs Ukraine Betting Tips – Nations League 2026-27
N Ireland to win & under 2.5 goals @ 16/5
Jamie Donley to score at any time @ 11/4
N Ireland to keep clean sheet @ 6/4
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