After 24 years in the wilderness, Northern Ireland returned to the World Cup their first appearance since 1958. Billy Bingham was the man tasked with guiding them back.
| Team | MP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 10 |
| 2 |
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 9 |
| 3 |
|
3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 2 |
| 4 |
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 1 |
| 5 |
|
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | -3 | 1 |
| 6 |
|
3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
Reaching the second group stage was an achievement for Northern Ireland, who found the competition at that level fierce and unforgiving.
Northern Ireland experienced an inconsistent group stage, and the mixed results were not enough to go through. Their campaign featured a 0-0 draw with Yugoslavia, a 1-1 draw with Honduras, a hard-fought 1-0 win against Spain, a 2-2 draw with Austria, and a heavy 1-4 defeat to France. Despite competing with determination in the second the group phase, Northern Ireland's journey ended before the final.
1won3drawn1lost
5scored7conceded
3 draws in 5 matches advanced to the second group stage.
Gerry Armstrong led Northern Ireland's attack with 3 goals at the 1982 World Cup.
Conceded in only 3 of 5 matches
The tactical mind behind Northern Ireland's 1982 campaign. Leading Northern Ireland at his first World Cup just 1 win in 5 under Bingham.
Under Billy Bingham, Northern Ireland adopted an energetic and physical approach, often taking on bigger opponents. However, their midfield struggled to create clear chances, making them vulnerable to counter-attacks.
