On Friday, 14 November Slovak national team welcome Northern Ireland to the Košická Futbalová Aréna in Košice for a pivotal UEFA 2026 World Cup qualifier. This is the penultimate fixture in Group A, a four‑team section that also includes Germany (currently at the top of the table) and Luxembourg.
Slovakia currently occupy one of the qualification spots and will be looking to cement their place with another victory after their good performance against Luxembourg. For Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland, a result here is essential if they are to keep pace with the group leaders.
Kick‑off is scheduled for 19:45 UK time (20:45 local), and the compact 12,555‑seat stadium on the banks of the Hornád River is expected to provide an intense atmosphere. After facing each other at Windsor Park in October, this return leg gives the Slovaks home advantage and sets up a contest that will shape the final standings.
Slovakia vs Northern Ireland – Betting Odds
The markets already reflect how bookmakers expect this match to play out, with Slovakia priced as favourites. Betting odds can change quickly, especially in the days leading up to the match, so you should always check the latest prices before placing a bet.
A good starting point is 7bet, where the Slovakia vs Northern Ireland betting odds are updated frequently. The tables below summarise the current fractional odds at the time of writing.
1X2 Betting Odds
The 1X2 market is the simplest football bet: you pick the result after 90 minutes.
“1” represents a home win, “X” a draw, and “2” the away win. In this case a bet on Slovakia means you think the home side will take all three points. A draw covers the sides finishing level, and Northern Ireland is the outsider.
Because it doesn’t account for extra time or penalties, this is the standard way most bettors get involved in international football. As of publication, the Slovakia vs Northern Ireland odds on the 1X2 market are shown below.
| Slovakia win (1) | Draw X | Northern Ireland win (2) |
| 10/11 | 21/10 | 13/4 |
Double Chance Odds
The double chance market offers a safety net by covering two of the three possible outcomes.
A 1X bet wins if Slovakia triumph or if the match ends level. A 12 wager pays out if either side wins and only loses if the game is drawn. X2 means you’re backing Northern Ireland to avoid defeat, so it wins on a draw or away win.
Because these bets cover multiple outcomes, the odds are shorter than in the 1X2 market.
| 1X – Slovakia or Draw | 12 – Slovakia or Northern Ireland | X2 – Draw or Northern Ireland |
| 1/5 | 7/20 | 19/25 |
Handicap Betting Odds
Handicap betting levels the playing field by giving the underdog a head start or the favourite a deficit. A -0.5 handicap on Slovakia means the home side must win by any margin, while Northern Ireland +0.5 covers an away win or a draw.
Longer‑odds handicaps such as -1 require Slovakia to win by at least two goals for the bet to pay out, whereas +1 on Northern Ireland wins unless they lose by more than a single goal.
This market is popular when bettors think one side is significantly stronger but want better value than the basic 1X2 odds.
| Handicap | Slovakia | Northern Ireland |
| Slovakia (-1) Northern Ireland (+1) |
7/4 | 2/5 |
| Slovakia (-0.5) Northern Ireland (+0.5) |
20/21 | 20/23 |
Both Teams to Score (BTTS) Odds
The Both Teams to Score market asks a simple question: will each team score at least one goal? Yes wins if both Slovakia and Northern Ireland find the net. No pays out only if one side (or both) fails to score.
This bet is independent of who wins the match, which makes it attractive when you expect an open game but are unsure about the overall result. What you should consider for this type of bet are the attacking form and fragile defences on both sides.
| Yes | No |
| 23/20 | 4/6 |
Goal Total (Over/Under) Odds
Total goals bets focus on whether the match will produce more or fewer goals than a set line. The most common threshold is 2.5 goals because it splits a typical match between low‑scoring (0–2 total goals) and higher‑scoring encounters (3 or more).
An Over 2.5 wins if the two teams score at least three goals in total. Under 2.5 wins when the game features two goals or fewer. If you think Slovakia will dominate but keep things tight at the back, the under may appeal. If you expect an end‑to‑end contest, the over offers better value.
| Over 2.5 goals | Under 2.5 goals |
| 7/5 | 10/19 |
Correct Score Odds
Predicting the correct score is one of the hardest bets to land because you need to get the exact scoreline. The flip side is that these odds are often much longer than other markets, so more money for you if you guess right.
It’s a good idea to only use this market if you have a strong view on how the match will unfold. For example, if you expect a cagey affair you might back 0–0, whereas if you predict a narrow home win you could choose 1–0 or 2–1. Below are the prices on some of the most popular scorelines.
| 0–0 | Slovakia 1–0 | Slovakia 2-0 | Slovakia 2-1 |
| 17/3 | 9/2 | 7/1 | 8/1 |
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Please note: The Slovakia vs Northern Ireland odds listed above are accurate at the time of publication. Prices are subject to change and may vary between bookmakers. Always check the latest odds before placing a bet.
Where to Watch Live
UK viewers will be able to follow Slovakia v Northern Ireland live on terrestrial television. The match kicks off at 19:45 and will be shown on BBC Three and BBC Two NI, with streaming available via BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. These channels will also provide pre‑match coverage from 19:30.
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