Monday, April 13th marked a significant anniversary for Northern Irish football—five years since the women's national team secured their historic qualification for the Euro 2022 finals.
That unforgettable night at Seaview saw Northern Ireland overcome both Ukraine and considerable odds to book a place at their first-ever major tournament, held the following year in England. The landscape, however, has transformed dramatically since that breakthrough.
Of the 23 players who traveled to Southampton for the Euros, only nine remain part of the current squad for the ongoing 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign. That number is set to rise to ten with the anticipated return of influential captain and striker Simone Magill after she gives birth this spring. The team's composition has shifted toward youth, with the average age dropping from 26.7 to 25.2 and the average number of caps falling from 42.3 to 28.4.
Leadership has also changed hands. The tenures of manager Kenny Shiels and his successor, Tanya Oxtoby, have concluded. Tuesday's match against Malta will be the first in charge for new boss Michael McArdle.
Amidst this evolution, defender Rebecca McKenna has been a constant presence. At just 25 years old and celebrating her birthday on Monday, she is on the cusp of earning her 60th cap during the World Cup qualifier against Malta. Reflecting on the journey, McKenna believes the current squad possesses the same special qualities as the history-making Euro 2022 team.
"Qualifying for the Euros five years ago, I think that's just made us hungrier," McKenna told BBC Sport NI. "That was a special moment for that group, and we deserved to be there. I think the group we have now is just as special, and I believe all the girls who are here deserve to be here."
While the memory of Euro 2022 remains a proud chapter, the team's focus is squarely on future achievements. The youthful squad faces a challenging new qualification format for the 2027 World Cup, likely requiring victories over at least two higher-ranked nations—a tall order that suggests the upcoming tournament may arrive too soon for this developing group.
After opening their qualifying campaign with defeats by Switzerland and Turkey under interim manager Kris Lindsay, Northern Ireland aims to ignite their efforts with a home match against Malta at Mourneview Park on Tuesday, followed by an away fixture on Saturday. For McKenna and her teammates, the immediate goal is building momentum, but the ultimate ambition remains clear: forging a new path to major tournament success.