THE Northern Ireland squad for upcoming FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup qualifiers has been named.
Manager Keith Gibson has chosen a 14-strong panel to compete in the European qualifiers for the inaugural global tournament.
European qualifying for the World Cup – it is being staged in the Philippines in November/December next year – consists of a main round this autumn and an elite round next spring.
Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group 3, one of six four-team groups in the main round. Their opponents in the group will be hosts Czechia, Ukraine and France.
The Group 3 mini tournament is being staged in Teplice in Czechia next week and Gibson’s team will meet the Czechs on matchday one. That game is due to take place on Wednesday(16 October) with a 7pm start CET.
They will then come up against Ukraine next Thursday (4pm CET) before they take on the French on Saturday 19 October at 4pm CET.
Gibson said: “The players are looking forward to competing in a very tough group in Czechia.
“They have been working really hard in training and can’t wait to get going in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.”
In the main round 24 teams will compete, while top European seeds Portugal and Spain will enter at the elite round stage.
Only group winners at stage one will qualify for the elite round, which will feature two groups of four, including the Portuguese and Spanish. From there four teams will qualify for the inaugural World Cup tournament.
The Northern Ireland senior women’s futsal squad for the qualifiers (main round) is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Alice Harkness-Armstrong (Chiltern), Laura Newman (Rosario).
Defenders: Erin Hennity (Bangor Ladies), Shannon Dunne (Derry City), Jane McMaster (Linfield Women).
Midfielders: Chloe Doak and Siobhan Bell (both St James’ Swifts), Samantha Kelly and Megan Weatherall (both Afrimeripean), Beth McKay (Edinburgh Inter), Jessica Rea (Crusaders).
Attackers: Claire Shaw (Ballymena United Women), Amber Dempster (Bangor Ladies), Aimee-Lee Peachey (Lisburn Ladies).
