Slovakia advanced to the final stage of World Cup qualification after a 2-1 victory over Northern Ireland on November 16, 2023, in bratislava. The win secures Slovakia’s place in the playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The decisive goal came in the 91st minute from former Bundesliga player László Bénes, mirroring a late winner Slovakia secured against Germany in September. Earlier in the match, goals from Milan Skriniar and David Strelec were disallowed following Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review for offside and a foul, respectively. Northern Ireland’s Daniel Ballard received a red card in added time (99th minute).
Despite the loss, Northern Ireland remains in contention for a World Cup berth due to their performance in the UEFA Nations League. Their Nations league results qualify them for the playoff round, offering a second chance to reach the tournament. The playoff system provides an additional pathway for teams that did not directly qualify through the standard qualifying groups.
