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With the spotlight now on international football, Northern Ireland are set to take on Guinea in a friendly match at La Linea, Spain, on Thursday, 4 June 2026, at 23:00 WIB.

Neither team will be travelling to North America for the upcoming World Cup, meaning there is not much at stake in this fixture.

In fact, Northern Ireland may be more focused on their next friendly against France.

The question remains — can Guinea pull off an upset victory, or will Northern Ireland secure a satisfying win away from home?

Head-to-Head: Northern Ireland vs Guinea

• This will be the first-ever meeting between Northern Ireland and Guinea, and also the first time Guinea face a non-African opponent since their friendly loss to Brazil in the summer of 2023.
• Northern Ireland were unfortunate not to qualify for the World Cup, having put up a strong fight in their playoff match against Italy before losing 2-0.
• However, their recent form has been below par, with only one win in their last five outings.
• Guinea, on the other hand, were not as close to qualifying. They finished fourth in their CAF qualifying group, which was eventually topped by Algeria, meaning they have yet to qualify for a World Cup since gaining independence.
• Prior to their defeat against Benin in March, Guinea had been on a solid run, going seven matches unbeaten with three wins and four draws.
• Their most impressive result during that stretch was arguably a goalless draw with Algeria.
• Northern Ireland will be without several key players for this match, including defender Dan Ballard of Sunderland and Liverpool’s Conor Bradley, both sidelined with injuries.

Team News: Northern Ireland vs Guinea

Northern Ireland will be missing several regulars for their post-season camp, as Conor Bradley, Dan Ballard, Paddy McNair, Eoin Toal, George Saville, and Brad Lyons are all unavailable.

On a more positive note, Swansea City midfielder Ethan Galbraith has been recalled after recovering from a calf injury that has kept him out since the match against Wales in March.

Manager Michael O’Neill has also called up three uncapped teenagers — Braiden Graham, Kieran Morrison, and Ceadach O’Neill — to the 23-man squad.

Jamie Donley could lead the Northern Ireland attack, having scored in two of his last three international appearances. Guinea, however, will be without their star striker Serhou Guirassy.

The Borussia Dortmund forward netted 22 goals for his club in the recently concluded season and has scored 11 goals in 28 appearances for the national team, but he has been rested this month.

Coach Kaba Diawara will also be without Kaba Sory, Aliou Balde, and Aboubacar Camara due to injuries, though Balde has been replaced by Anderlecht’s Gassimou Sylla.

Meanwhile, Ousmane Camara remains with his club Castellon, who are still involved in the Spanish Segunda Division promotion playoffs.

Predicted Line-ups: Northern Ireland vs Guinea

Northern Ireland: P. Charles; Hume, Brown, McConville; Devenny, Galbraith, McCann, S. Charles, Spencer; Price, Donley

Guinea: So. Sylla; Fofana, Konate, Soumah, Se. Sylla; S. Cisse, Haidara; Camara, M. Sylla, Barry; G. Sylla

Score Predictions: Northern Ireland vs Guinea

Sportskeeda’s Prediction

Considering that neither side will be featuring in the upcoming World Cup, and with Northern Ireland likely to place more emphasis on their next friendly against France, this match might not produce fireworks.

Guinea remain relatively unknown outside Africa, as they rarely face opponents beyond their continent.

However, they do possess a dangerous striker in Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, and although their recent results suggest they might struggle to beat Northern Ireland, a draw would not be surprising.

Predicted Score: Northern Ireland 1-1 Guinea

Sportsmole’s Prediction

Despite both teams missing key players, Northern Ireland appear to be further along in their rebuilding phase.

With both sides seeking experience, the match could be a low-scoring affair, as neither team has been prolific in front of goal.

Predicted Score: Northern Ireland 1-0 Guinea

TribunLombok’s Prediction

Both sides will be without their main attacking threats. Guinea’s offensive power is significantly reduced in the absence of Serhou Guirassy, while Northern Ireland are also missing several key players who usually form the backbone of their team.

Recent statistics show that both teams have struggled to score. Northern Ireland have recorded just one win in their last five matches, while Guinea are more known for their defensive organization than attacking prowess.

As this is only a friendly match with no tournament implications, both coaches are expected to focus more on tactical experimentation and player assessment rather than taking unnecessary risks to secure a win.

With the game being held in Spain, Northern Ireland’s usual psychological advantage from playing at home will be neutralized.

Predicted Score: Northern Ireland 0-0 Guinea