Nadene Caldwell (foreground) says Northern Ireland need to build some early momentum in their campaign
Published March 3, 2026 • Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c4g80ppd8pno
By Richard Petrie BBC Sport NI Journalist
Long-serving Northern Ireland midfielder Nadene Caldwell says the team will be "keen to get some early points on the board" and "build up a bit of momentum" to boost their qualification campaign for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
The squad kick off their group matches by taking on Switzerland on Tuesday, before welcoming Turkey to Mourneview Park on Saturday.
Interim manager Kris Lindsay is taking charge of the side for at least the first pair of 2027 qualifiers as the search for Tanya Oxtoby's permanent successor continues.
Northern Ireland will play Malta home and away in April, before ending the series with further fixtures against Turkey and Switzerland.
"This is going to be a very tough group and for us that starts against Switzerland, before our full focus will turn to Turkey," Caldwell told BBC Sport NI's Nicola McCarthy.
"For us it's important to try and get some points on the board early so that the team can kick on in confidence and really kick on the campaign.
"It's a crammed fixture list but we must try to build up a bit of momentum."
Caldwell added that the opener against Switzerland represents a tough start but welcomes the opportunity for the side to test themselves against top opposition.
"The main thing for us is that we're getting competitive games and you can measure yourself against the best players in the world. That can only make you better as a player.
"Take the positives from one game and move onto the next, and hopefully we can go on a good run.
"Switzerland, top seeds away from home...a difficult fixture but I would say the pressure is all on them. They're top seeds and we know we're going to have to absorb a lot of pressure at times."
Switzerland v Northern Ireland
2027 Fifa Women's World Cup qualifiers
Tuesday, 3 March at 18:00 GMT
Stade de la Tuiliere, Lausanne
Watch on iPlayer
'We have to use the ball well'
Northern Ireland are second seeds in the group and Caldwell says the hope is that position will be reflected in the qualifying table come the end of the campaign.
"We want to be second in the group. That's where we are seeded and anything else would be a disappointment.
"Turkey will be a massive test for us, in and around us in the rankings, so we'll really look forward to that, but we're fully focused on Switzerland first.
"We have to use the ball well when we have it and go and express ourselves and really show what it means to play for Northern Ireland."
With regular captain Simone Magill taking time out from the game as she is pregnant, Caldwell is unsure who will assume the skipper's armband in her absence, and whether Lindsay will remain at the helm for April's matches.
"It's not something we've spoken about [the captaincy] - there are a lot of great leaders within the group and that leadership role can come in any shape or form.
"We obviously don't know what's happening with Kris but we'll fully focus on these two games and then we'll regroup for the rest of the campaign."