Northern Ireland U17 began their UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Armenia U17 on October 28, 2025. The home side showed great character to claim all three points in what was a closely matched encounter. Northern Ireland likely took an early lead, but Armenia fought back to level the score, setting up a tense finale. The winning goal, scored in the second half, sparked celebrations and gave the young Northern Irish team a crucial boost. This opening victory provided a solid foundation in a competitive group, putting immediate pressure on their rivals and giving the squad confidence for the matches ahead.