West Ham United Academy of Football prospect Joel Kerr was Northern Ireland’s match-winner as they opened their 2026 UEFA European U17 Championship Round 1 qualifying campaign with a 2-1 victory over Armenia.
Midfielder Kerr hit the net five minutes before half-time to give his country the ideal start to their Group 11 challenge at the Sotira Municipal Stadium in Cyprus.
Cliftonville forward Eamon Tohill had put Northern Ireland ahead before 16-year-old Kerr doubled his side’s lead from a pass from Heart of Midlothian’s Alfie Wilson.
Armenia pulled a goal back through Armen Ghazaryan in added time at the end of the first half, but Andrew Waterworth’s Northern Ireland held on to secure all three points.
Group 11 hosts Cyprus defeated Finland 1-0 in Tuesday’s other fixture, meaning Northern Ireland are top of the table.
The County Tyrone-born former Glentoran youngster earned his eleventh U17 cap for his country and will hope to make it 12 on Friday 31 October, when Northern Ireland take on Cyprus at Ethnikos Achnas, and 13 when they complete Round 1 by taking on Finland in Sotira on Monday 3 November.
The winners and runners-up from the 14 groups will go through to Round 2, where they will be drawn into seven groups of four, the seven winners of which will join hosts Estonia at the eight-nation final tournament in May-June 2026.
Northern Ireland are seeking to qualify for the first time since 2004.
