Stephen McMullan Secures First Senior Call-Up to Northern Ireland Squad for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Goalkeeper Stephen McMullan joins the Northern Ireland squad for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers, replacing the injured Pierce Charles amid ongoing goalkeeper shortages.
Uncapped goalkeeper Stephen McMullan has been called up to Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland squad for the opening matches of 2026 World Cup qualifying, replacing the injured Pierce Charles.
Charles, the Sheffield Wednesday keeper, damaged his shoulder earlier this month and will miss the fixtures against Luxembourg and Germany. With Conor Hazard also sidelined by injury, McMullan—currently on loan at Waterford from Fleetwood Town—joins Bailey Peacock-Farrell and Luke Southwood in the squad.
Twenty-year-old McMullan, a former youth international at under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels, began his senior career with Warrenpoint Town before moving to Fleetwood Town in 2022. After a loan spell at Caernarfon Town, he has featured in 27 of Waterford’s 28 league games this season.
Northern Ireland start their qualifying campaign away to Luxembourg on 4 September, followed by a match against Germany in Cologne on 7 September (both 19:45 BST kick-offs), live on INLIBER. The team aims to reach its first World Cup finals since Mexico 1986.
Northern Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Blackpool, on loan from Birmingham City), Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers), Stephen McMullan (Waterford, on loan from Fleetwood Town).
Defenders: Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard (both Sunderland), Brodie Spencer (Oxford United), Conor Bradley (Liverpool), Ruairi McConville (Norwich City), Paddy McNair (San Diego), Eoin Toal (Bolton Wanderers), Terry Devlin (Portsmouth).
Midfielders: George Saville (Luton Town), Shea Charles (Southampton), Alistair McCann (Preston North End), Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City), Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock), Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace), Caolan Boyd-Munce (Wycombe Wanderers), Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion), Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers), Callum Marshall (West Ham United), Jamie Donley (Stoke City, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur).
Forwards: Dion Charles (Huddersfield Town), Jamie Reid (Stevenage), Dale Taylor (Blackpool), Ronan Hale (Ross County).
McMullan’s inclusion boosts Northern Ireland’s goalkeeping depth as they target a first World Cup finals appearance in nearly four decades.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport.
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