Northern Ireland vs Spain head-to-head record

Northern Ireland wins: 2
Draws: 5
Spain wins: 12

19 meetings, 1958 to 2024Goals: Northern Ireland 12, Spain 43

Northern Ireland and Spain have met 19 times since 1958. Spain have won 12, Northern Ireland 2, and 5 matches ended level. They last met on 8 June 2024, when Spain won 5–1 in a friendly.

The 19 meetings have produced 55 goals, 2.89 per game. The biggest win is Spain’s 5–0 in a friendly in 2002. Spain have won the last two meetings. They went 16 years without meeting, between 2007 and 2024.

Who has won more, Northern Ireland or Spain?

All matches19 matches

2 Northern Ireland5 drawsSpain 12

Competitive14 matches

2 Northern Ireland4 drawsSpain 8

Friendlies5 matches

0 Northern Ireland1 drawSpain 4

Key numbers

Goals: Northern Ireland 12, Spain 432.89 per game
First meeting: Spain 6–2 Northern IrelandFriendly, 15 Oct 1958
Most recent: Spain 5–1 Northern IrelandFriendly, 8 Jun 2024
Northern Ireland’s biggest win: Northern Ireland 3–2 SpainEuro qualifying, 6 Sept 2006
Spain’s biggest win: Northern Ireland 0–5 SpainFriendly, 17 Apr 2002
Most goals in a meeting: Spain 6–2 Northern IrelandFriendly, 15 Oct 1958
Current run: Spain, 2 wins in a row
Biggest upset: Northern Ireland 3–2 SpainEuro qualifying, 6 Sept 2006Winner’s rating-based win expectancy: 9.7%
TFN Elo rating now: Northern Ireland 1721 (57th), Spain 2346 (1st)How the rating works

Last five meetings

8 Jun 2024
Spain5Northern Ireland1
Friendly
Mallorca, Spain
21 Nov 2007
Spain1Northern Ireland0
Euro qualifying
Las Palmas, Spain
6 Sept 2006
Northern Ireland3Spain2
Euro qualifying
Belfast, Northern Ireland
11 Jun 2003
Northern Ireland0Spain0
Euro qualifying
Belfast, Northern Ireland
12 Oct 2002
Spain3Northern Ireland0
Euro qualifying
Albacete, Spain

Who has had the upper hand over time?

The line climbs with every Northern Ireland win and drops with every Spain win, so its height shows who has won more meetings up to that point.

Above the line: Northern Ireland have won more Below: Spain have won more

Level

Spain lead by 10 wins after the latest meeting. The biggest lead was 10, held by Spain from 8 June 2024.

Every meeting on one timeline

Northern Ireland wins

Draws

Spain wins

Larger dots mark bigger winning margins. Hover a dot for the result.

Home, away and neutral

In Northern Ireland's home games

6 matches

123

Northern IrelandDrawsSpain

In Spain's home games

11 matches

128

Northern IrelandDrawsSpain

At neutral venues

2 matches

011

Northern IrelandDrawsSpain

Record by competition

Record by competition
Competition	Played	Northern Ireland	Draws	Spain	Goals
Euro qualifying	8	1	3	4	5–12
Friendly	5	0	1	4	4–20
World Cup qualifying	4	0	1	3	1–9
World Cup	2	1	0	1	2–2

Meetings by decade

Northern Ireland wins Draws Spain wins

Meetings by decade
Decade	Played	Northern Ireland	Draws	Spain	Goals
1950s	1	0	0	1	8
1960s	2	0	1	1	3
1970s	2	0	1	1	5
1980s	5	1	1	3	10
1990s	3	0	1	2	9
2000s	5	1	1	3	14
2020s	1	0	0	1	6

Longest runs

Longest runs
Longest run of	Northern Ireland	Spain
Wins in a row	12006	41993 to 2002
Unbeaten meetings	31972 to 1985	101985 to 2003

Top scorers in Northern Ireland vs Spain

1David HealyNorthern Ireland3
2Julio SalinasSpain3
3Emilio ButragueñoSpain2
4Rubén BarajaSpain2
5XaviSpain2

Scorer records exist for 12 of the 19 meetings, mostly competitive matches. Own goals are not credited to a player.

Questions answered

How many times have Northern Ireland and Spain played each other?

19 times, starting on 15 October 1958. 14 of those meetings were competitive and 5 were friendlies.

Who has won more matches between Northern Ireland and Spain?

Spain, with 12 wins to 2. 5 matches ended level.

What is the biggest win in Northern Ireland vs Spain?

Spain’s 5–0 win in a friendly on 17 April 2002 in Belfast.

When did Northern Ireland and Spain last play?

On 8 June 2024 in Mallorca, when Spain won 5–1 in a friendly.

What is the competitive record between Northern Ireland and Spain?

In 14 competitive matches, Northern Ireland have 2 wins, Spain have 8, and 4 ended level.

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Every Northern Ireland vs Spain result

All 19 Competitive 14 Friendlies 5

Every Northern Ireland vs Spain result
Date	Home	Score	Away	Competition	Venue
8 Jun 2024	Spain	5–1	Northern Ireland	Friendly	Mallorca, Spain
21 Nov 2007	Spain	1–0	Northern Ireland	Euro qualifying	Las Palmas, Spain
6 Sept 2006	Northern Ireland	3–2	Spain	Euro qualifying	Belfast, Northern Ireland
11 Jun 2003	Northern Ireland	0–0	Spain	Euro qualifying	Belfast, Northern Ireland
12 Oct 2002	Spain	3–0	Northern Ireland	Euro qualifying	Albacete, Spain
17 Apr 2002	Northern Ireland	0–5	Spain	Friendly	Belfast, Northern Ireland
3 Jun 1998	Spain	4–1	Northern Ireland	Friendly	Santander, Spain
28 Apr 1993	Spain	3–1	Northern Ireland	World Cup qualifying	Seville, Spain
14 Oct 1992	Northern Ireland	0–0	Spain	World Cup qualifying	Belfast, Northern Ireland
8 Feb 1989	Northern Ireland	0–2	Spain	World Cup qualifying	Belfast, Northern Ireland
21 Dec 1988	Spain	4–0	Northern Ireland	World Cup qualifying	Seville, Spain
7 Jun 1986	Northern Ireland	1–2	Spain	World Cup	Guadalajara, Mexico (neutral)
27 Mar 1985	Spain	0–0	Northern Ireland	Friendly	Palma de Mallorca, Spain
25 Jun 1982	Spain	0–1	Northern Ireland	World Cup	Valencia, Spain
16 Feb 1972	Northern Ireland	1–1	Spain	Euro qualifying	Kingston upon Hull, England (neutral)
11 Nov 1970	Spain	3–0	Northern Ireland	Euro qualifying	Seville, Spain
30 Oct 1963	Northern Ireland	0–1	Spain	Euro qualifying	Belfast, Northern Ireland
30 May 1963	Spain	1–1	Northern Ireland	Euro qualifying	Bilbao, Spain
15 Oct 1958	Spain	6–2	Northern Ireland	Friendly	Madrid, Spain