The team's poor form has been evident in recent matches, with defensive and offensive struggles highlighted. Under interim boss Kris Lindsay, Northern Ireland were fairly solid in defeats against Switzerland and Turkey, but an individual error from Lauren Perry gifted Turkey a victory. Offensively, the team managed just one shot on target against Switzerland and two at home against Turkey, with their last goal coming in June 2025 in a 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
To address these issues, McArdle has called up uncapped 22-year-old striker Cora Chambers and Glentoran teenager Kascie Weir to his first squad. Chambers formed a deadly partnership with Eve Reilly for Linfield in the Women's Premiership last season, registering 20 goals, and has scored 39 goals in 47 appearances since moving to Linfield in 2024. Upcoming crucial matches against Malta in an April double-header offer a chance to turn things around, with Malta currently sitting bottom of Group B2 and winless in its opening two games, while Northern Ireland is also winless in its opening two games.
Excitement, I think that's the certainly in immediate observation [of Cora]. Looking ahead to Malta, there's a focus on the front end of the pitch. Cora is definitely a player that over the last two years in the league has shown real strength in her outcomes and consistent performances and it's one of those ones that it's easy to reward that. Really excited by Cora and I think that the energy that she can add is slightly different to what we already have and certainly it's a reward for her hard work over the last couple of seasons at club.
Northern Ireland cruised to a 2-0 win away against Malta in Euro 2025 qualifying, but McArdle is wary that Malta will target the two games against Northern Ireland as their best chance to get points. It remains unknown how effective the new call-ups like Cora Chambers and Kascie Weir will be in scoring goals, and whether Northern Ireland can secure a play-off spot for the 2027 World Cup.