Northern Ireland the only 2026-27 Nations League side yet to concede

When Switzerland equalised in the 11th minute of their eventual 2-1 win over Slovenia on Saturday, Northern Ireland became the only team left in the 2026-27 Uefa Nations League yet to concede a goal.

Michael O'Neill's side have kept three consecutive clean sheets on their return to the second tier of the competition, beating Georgia and Ukraine to nil with a scoreless stalemate against Hungary between those wins. Across this campaign and the 2024-25 edition, when Northern Ireland played in League C, they have kept seven clean sheets in their past nine Nations League games, conceding just three goals. Northern Ireland sit top of their group with seven points from three games.

If Northern Ireland prevent Georgia from scoring again in Belfast on Monday night it will be the side's longest run of clean sheets in nine years. In the reverse fixture in Tbilisi goalkeeper Pierce Charles saved a penalty from Paris St-Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and was named player of the match.

Despite the absence of Daniel Ballard and Conor Bradley through injury, the Queens Park Rangers loanee has had precious little to do in the two games since. Hungary had their only shot on target in injury time at Windsor Park last week. Northern Ireland's record goalscorer David Healy described the stopper's two saves in the 3-0 victory against Ukraine as "ones for the camera".

O'Neill placed emphasis on the defensive record, saying: "I think the clean sheets are a real plus for us and we want to maintain that because history tells us that Northern Ireland are never the highest scoring team." He added: "If you look at the xG [Expected Goals] in the games, people have different opinions on that, but the xG for the opposition has been low and that means we've got a good defensive structure. It means our young defenders are coping with the game at this level, but it also means that we defend well as a team and the best teams do that."

Work-rate and transition play were highlighted as part of Northern Ireland's approach, with Isaac Price — the West Bromwich Albion attacker who scored his 11th international goal against Ukraine — described as covering plenty of ground. O'Neill said: "You watch PSG, and their willingness to defend and to run, is a great example. We have that ability to run when we lose the ball. We've got great recovery runners in our team, and that's a big reason why teams have found it difficult against us." Opta recorded Northern Ireland with 27.2% possession against Ukraine, the lowest recorded in Nations League history for a win by more than one goal, and O'Neill added: "We see some of the best teams play with very little possession as well. Sometimes you have teams who have a lot of possession but struggle to do anything with it. You can control the game without the ball as much as with the ball."

Northern Ireland's defensive record extends beyond the Nations League: in all competitions they have kept eight clean sheets from their past 10 games at home. On Monday night Georgia will attempt to become the first visitors to Belfast to score more than once since Cyprus in June 2022. Sunderland defender Trai Hume said: "I think over the last three or four years, we've played the same system and I think boys are getting more comfortable and they understand their jobs. That's not just the starting XI, it's the boys that come into the team who understand what they have to do too. On and off the ball you understand where you have to be on the pitch and, when you understand that, it makes the game a lot easier. Once you understand your role in the system, that's when you can start to express yourself and I think you're starting to see that."

Northern Ireland host Georgia in Belfast on Monday, 5 October, with kick-off at 19:45 BST; the match will be shown live on BBC iPlayer, BBC One NI, BBC Three, BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster, with coverage on the BBC Sport website and app and live text commentary available online.