Northern Ireland squad fit and ready for June friendlies with Guinea and France

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has announced his full squad is fit and set for upcoming friendlies against Guinea and France in June 2026.

Squad health confirmed Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has confirmed all 23 players in his squad have reported fit for duty as preparations begin for two upcoming international friendlies. The first match, against Guinea, is scheduled for Thursday at 17:00 BST in Cadiz, Spain, followed by a clash with France on Monday 8 June at 20:10 BST near Lille. Both encounters serve as key preparation ahead of Northern Ireland's Nations League campaign starting in September. O'Neill also revealed he signed a contract extension last week, keeping him as manager until 2032. ## Venues and opponents The friendly against Guinea will take place at Estadio Ciudad de La Linea, while the match with France is set for the Decathlon Arena. Both fixtures are part of Northern Ireland's build-up for their Nations League campaign. Guinea, not yet qualified for the World Cup, will face Northern Ireland first, followed by a test against France, who are already through to the tournament. The double-header provides valuable game time for the squad, who have not played since the Nations League concluded in March. ## New faces and absentees Among the players included in the squad for the friendlies are uncapped teenagers Braiden Graham and Ceadach O'Neill. However, several regulars are unavailable for selection, including Dan Ballard, Paddy McNair, Terry Devlin, Eoin Toal, George Saville, and Brad Lyons. The squad's return to training has been met with enthusiasm, with a strong sense of unity and determination ahead of the two matches. O'Neill has highlighted the importance of making the most of the training window to ensure readiness for the fixtures. ## Manager's outlook O'Neill expressed his satisfaction with the squad's fitness levels upon arrival, stating that having all players in camp healthy was exactly what was needed before an important international window. He also shared his optimism about the squad's mindset, noting a positive atmosphere within the group. The manager emphasized the value of the upcoming games, describing them as different but crucial opportunities to test the team's progress. His focus remains on maximizing training time to ensure strong performances in both matches. ## Squad line-up breakdown The Northern Ireland squad for the friendlies includes the following players by position: Goalkeepers: - Pierce Charles (Sheffield Wednesday) - Josh Clarke (Partick Thistle) - Luke Southwood (Bristol Rovers) Defenders: - Ciaron Brown (Oxford United) - Brodie Spencer (Oxford United) - Trai Hume (Sunderland) - Ruairi McConville (Norwich City) - Tom Atcheson (Blackburn Rovers) Midfielders: - Alistair McCann (Preston North End) - Shea Charles (Southampton) - Isaac Price (West Bromwich Albion) - Paul Smyth (Queens Park Rangers) - Ethan Galbraith (Swansea City) - Justin Devenny (Crystal Palace) - Jamie McDonnell (Oxford United) - Patrick Kelly (Barnsley) - Kieran Morrison (Liverpool) Forwards: - Josh Magennis (Exeter City) - Callum Marshall (West Ham United) - Jamie Reid (Stevenage) - Jamie Donley (Tottenham Hotspur) - Braiden Graham (Everton) - Ceadach O'Neill (Arsenal)