Luxembourg’s national football team, 4 September 2025; Credit: Ali Sahib; Chronicle.lu

On Monday 17 November 2025, Luxembourg’s men’s national football team lost their sixth match in the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, concluding their Group A run without a single point.

Luxembourg, coached by Jeff Strasser, concluded their qualification campaign in Belfast with an away match against Northern Ireland, to whom they had lost 1-3 in the reverse fixture in Luxembourg. Compared with Friday’s 0-2 defeat against Germany, the Red Lions made one change to their starting line-up, with Marvin Martins replacing Florian Bohnert.

The hosts applied pressure on Anthony Moris’ goal from the opening whistle and created several early chances, with the Luxembourg goalkeeper making his first save in the ninth minute. Northern Ireland then found the net in the seventeenth minute, but the goal was overturned following a VAR intervention for offside.

Luxembourg created their best opportunity of the first half in the 24th minute, when Danel Sinani played in a through ball to Kiki Martins, whose effort from the right side of the penalty area was saved by Conor Hazard. Moments later, a long-range attempt by Mathias Olesen from around 22 metres went narrowly wide of the far post.

The decisive moment of the first half came shortly before the interval. In the 40th minute, Kiki Martins, attempting to clear the ball inside his own box, struck the foot of an opposing player on the edge of the area. After a VAR review, Estonian referee Kristo Tohver awarded a penalty, which Jamie Donley converted to put Northern Ireland ahead. The first half ended with the hosts leading 1-0.

The score remained unchanged in the second half, with the hosts largely sitting deeper while Luxembourg sought opportunities to threaten Conor Hazard’s goal. The match also saw a senior national team debut for Progrès Niederkorn striker - Kenan Avdusinovic, who replaced Aiman Dardari in the 67th minute; the forward registered one attempt, which was blocked.

The game ended in a narrow win for Northern Ireland. In the group’s other fixture, Germany defeated Slovakia 6-0 in Frankfurt to secure direct qualification for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

Luxembourg’s next fixture will take place on 26 March 2026 in Malta in League C of the Nations League.

Starting lineups:

Northern Ireland: Conor Hazard (GK); Conor Bradley (C); Paddy McNair; Ruairi McConville; Ciaron Brown; Jamal Lewis; Brad Lyons; Etan Galbraith; Isaac Price; Jamie McDonell; Jamie Donley.

Luxembourg: Anthony Moris (GK); Laurent Jans (C); Dirk Carlson; Seid Korac; Martin Marvins; Olivier Thill; Mathias Olesen; Leandro Barreiro; Christopher Martins; Danel Sinani; Aiman Dardari.