Where and when is Malta U21 vs Northern Ireland U21 played?

Malta U21 vs Northern Ireland U21 is played on September 26, 2026 at 03:00 PM (UTC) at Ta'Qali National Stadium, in the UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification.

Will there be over 2.5 goals?

The Footlab model gives a 61% probability of at least three goals in this match.

How reliable is this prediction?

The Footlab model is measured at 53.9% correct 1X2 outcomes on a temporal hold-out, against 33.3% for random guessing. The breakdown by competition and Elo gap is published on the accuracy page.

Match

Malta U21 vs Northern Ireland U21: prediction and stats

UEFA U21 Championship - QualificationGroup Stage - 19Kick-off on September 26, 2026 at 03:00 PM (UTC)Ta'Qali National Stadium, Ta'Qali

Malta U21

Northern Ireland U21

The Footlab model makes Northern Ireland U21 the favourite at 49%, against 24% for a draw and 27% for Malta U21. The most likely score is 1-1.

This model is measured at 53.9% 1X2 accuracy on a temporal hold-out, against 33.3% for random guessing. See the measured accuracy

Probabilities recomputed on Aug 26, 2026. The full match card is recomputed continuously until kick-off.

Who will win Malta U21 vs Northern Ireland U21?

Northern Ireland U21 starts as the favourite with a 221-point Elo edge (1,444 vs 1,223).

Malta U21 win27 %

Draw24 %

Northern Ireland U21 win49 %

What is the recent form of both teams?

Over their last 15 matches in all competitions, Malta U21 have 0 wins, 0 draws and 15 defeats; Northern Ireland U21 have 5, 3 and 7.

The competition is shown for every match: in pre-season, several of these games are friendlies.

Malta U21
Date	Opponent	Score	Competition
Jun 4, 2026	Moldova U21(away)	0-3	Friendlies
Mar 31, 2026	Georgia U21(away)	1-4	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Mar 27, 2026	Greece U21(away)	0-5	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Nov 18, 2025	Latvia U21(home)	0-1	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Nov 14, 2025	Germany U21(away)	0-6	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification

Northern Ireland U21
Date	Opponent	Score	Competition
Jun 3, 2026	Portugal U21(away)	0-4	Friendlies
Mar 31, 2026	Latvia U21(away)	3-1	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Mar 27, 2026	Germany U21(away)	0-3	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Nov 18, 2025	Greece U21(away)	0-4	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Nov 13, 2025	Latvia U21(home)	1-0	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification

What does the head-to-head say?

Across the last 5 meetings: 2 Malta U21 win(s), 1 draw(s), 2 Northern Ireland U21 win(s).

Date	Score	Competition
Oct 9, 2025	Northern Ireland U21 2-0 Malta U21	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Nov 16, 2021	Northern Ireland U21 0-2 Malta U21	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Sep 3, 2021	Malta U21 4-1 Northern Ireland U21	UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification
Sep 4, 2020	Malta U21 0-2 Northern Ireland U21	UEFA U21 Championship
Sep 6, 2019	Northern Ireland U21 0-0 Malta U21	UEFA U21 Championship

Last archived meeting: Northern Ireland U21 vs Malta U21 on Oct 9, 2025

How many goals should we expect?

Malta U21 score 0.3 and concede 3.8 goals per match over their last 15; Northern Ireland U21 score 1.1 and concede 1.6. The model gives a 61% probability of over 2.5 goals and 62% for both teams to score.

Club	Goals scored / match	Goals conceded / match	Clean sheets	Both teams scored	Over 2.5 goals
Malta U21	0.3	3.8	0	5/15	12/15
Northern Ireland U21	1.1	1.6	5	5/15	10/15

Over the last 15 matches in all competitions.

Where do both teams sit in the table?

Malta U21 sit 6th in UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification (0 points from 7 matches) and Northern Ireland U21 sit 3rd (10 points from 7 matches).

2025-26 standings
#	Club	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
3	Northern Ireland U21	7	3	1	3	8	11	10
6	Malta U21	7	0	0	7	1	28	0

Verdict, probable XI and verified absences

The full match card recomputes this prediction continuously until kick-off: multi-market verdict, player-by-player probable XI and web-verified absences.

Open the full match card in the app

No odds, no affiliation: the method is published and the accuracy is measured.

How does Footlab compute this prediction?

The model combines both teams' Elo ratings (anchored by competition pool), their recent form weighted by opponent strength, home advantage and a Poisson matrix for scorelines. Its accuracy is measured continuously on the predictions actually published. Methodology and measured accuracy

Frequently asked questions

Who is the favourite for Malta U21 vs Northern Ireland U21?: The Footlab model makes Northern Ireland U21 the favourite at 49%, against 24% for a draw and 27% for Malta U21.
Where and when is Malta U21 vs Northern Ireland U21 played?: Malta U21 vs Northern Ireland U21 is played on September 26, 2026 at 03:00 PM (UTC) at Ta'Qali National Stadium, in the UEFA U21 Championship - Qualification.
Will there be over 2.5 goals?: The Footlab model gives a 61% probability of at least three goals in this match.
How reliable is this prediction?: The Footlab model is measured at 53.9% correct 1X2 outcomes on a temporal hold-out, against 33.3% for random guessing. The breakdown by competition and Elo gap is published on the accuracy page.