Northern Ireland vs Sweden
head-to-head record
- Northern Ireland wins
- 3
- Draws
- 1
- Sweden wins
- 4
8 meetings, 1974 to 2025Goals: Northern Ireland 11, Sweden 12
Northern Ireland and Sweden have met 8 times since 1974. Sweden have won 4, Northern Ireland 3, and 1 match ended level. They last met on 25 March 2025, when Sweden won 5–1 in a friendly.
The 8 meetings have produced 23 goals, 2.88 per game. The biggest win is Sweden’s 5–1 in a friendly in 2025. In competitive matches, though, Northern Ireland lead 3 wins to 2. They went 17 years without meeting, between 2007 and 2025.
Who has won more, Northern Ireland or Sweden?
All matches8 matches
Competitive6 matches
Friendlies2 matches
Key numbers
- Goals
- Northern Ireland 11, Sweden 122.88 per game
- First meeting
- Sweden 0–2 Northern IrelandEuro qualifying, 30 Oct 1974
- Most recent
- Sweden 5–1 Northern IrelandFriendly, 25 Mar 2025
- Northern Ireland’s biggest win
- Northern Ireland 3–0 SwedenWorld Cup qualifying, 15 Oct 1980
- Sweden’s biggest win
- Sweden 5–1 Northern IrelandFriendly, 25 Mar 2025
- Most goals in a meeting
- Sweden 5–1 Northern IrelandFriendly, 25 Mar 2025
- Biggest upset
- Sweden 0–2 Northern IrelandEuro qualifying, 30 Oct 1974Winner’s rating-based win expectancy: 19%
- TFN Elo rating now
- Northern Ireland 1721 (57th), Sweden 1832 (32nd)How the rating works
Last five meetings
- Sweden5Northern Ireland1
Friendly
Solna, Sweden
- Sweden1Northern Ireland1
Euro qualifying
Solna, Sweden
- Northern Ireland2Sweden1
Euro qualifying
Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Northern Ireland1Sweden2
Friendly
Belfast, Northern Ireland
- Sweden1Northern Ireland0
World Cup qualifying
Solna, Sweden
Who has had the upper hand over time?
The line climbs with every Northern Ireland win and drops with every Sweden win, so its height shows who has won more meetings up to that point.
Every meeting on one timeline
Home, away and neutral
In Northern Ireland's home games
4 matches
202
Northern IrelandDrawsSweden
In Sweden's home games
4 matches
112
Northern IrelandDrawsSweden
Record by competition
| Competition | Played | Northern Ireland | Draws | Sweden | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Euro qualifying | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6–4 |
| World Cup qualifying | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3–1 |
| Friendly | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2–7 |
Meetings by decade
| Decade | Results | Played | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 2 | 5 | |
| 1980s | 2 | 4 | |
| 1990s | 1 | 3 | |
| 2000s | 2 | 5 | |
| 2020s | 1 | 6 |
Longest runs
| Longest run of | Northern Ireland | Sweden |
|---|---|---|
| Wins in a row | 12007 | 21981 to 1996 |
| Unbeaten meetings | 22007 | 22007 to 2025 |
Top scorers in Northern Ireland vs Sweden
- 1David HealyNorthern Ireland2
Scorer records exist for 6 of the 8 meetings, mostly competitive matches. Own goals are not credited to a player.
Questions answered
How many times have Northern Ireland and Sweden played each other?
8 times, starting on 30 October 1974. 6 of those meetings were competitive and 2 were friendlies.
Who has won more matches between Northern Ireland and Sweden?
Sweden, with 4 wins to 3. 1 match ended level.
What is the biggest win in Northern Ireland vs Sweden?
Sweden’s 5–1 win in a friendly on 25 March 2025 in Solna.
When did Northern Ireland and Sweden last play?
On 25 March 2025 in Solna, when Sweden won 5–1 in a friendly.
What is the competitive record between Northern Ireland and Sweden?
In 6 competitive matches, Northern Ireland have 3 wins, Sweden have 2, and 1 ended level.
Every Northern Ireland vs Sweden result
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 5–1 | Northern Ireland | Friendly | Solna, Sweden | |
| Sweden | 1–1 | Northern Ireland | Euro qualifying | Solna, Sweden | |
| Northern Ireland | 2–1 | Sweden | Euro qualifying | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Northern Ireland | 1–2 | Sweden | Friendly | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Sweden | 1–0 | Northern Ireland | World Cup qualifying | Solna, Sweden | |
| Northern Ireland | 3–0 | Sweden | World Cup qualifying | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Northern Ireland | 1–2 | Sweden | Euro qualifying | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Sweden | 0–2 | Northern Ireland | Euro qualifying | Solna, Sweden |
Recent form
Northern Ireland
Related rivalries
More Northern Ireland head-to-heads
Northern Ireland vs England99 meetings
Northern Ireland vs Scotland96 meetings
Northern Ireland vs Wales95 meetings
Northern Ireland vs Germany21 meetings
Northern Ireland vs Spain19 meetings
Northern Ireland vs Denmark14 meetings
Northern Ireland vs Austria13 meetings
Northern Ireland vs Portugal13 meetings
Results through 6 October 2026. Page updated 3 November 2026. How these numbers are calculated.