Two Northern Ireland fans are travelling to the 2026 World Cup in North America with no team of their own to cheer. Roger Woodend, 51, originally from Coleraine and now living in Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Alex Logan, 52, from Ballymoney, currently in Glasgow, plan to wear their Northern Ireland shirts at every match they attend.

The pair previously went to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil together and have followed Northern Ireland away to matches in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Italy, Azerbaijan, Costa Rica, Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan. Woodend founded the New York Northern Ireland Supporters Club about ten years ago.

Their first stop is Toronto for Canada’s game against Bosnia. They originally booked the trip expecting Northern Ireland to be playing there. Ticketing difficulties mean they may only be able to watch from a fanzone.

After Toronto they hope to obtain tickets for Ivory Coast against Ecuador in Philadelphia and France against Senegal in New Jersey. Woodend has already secured seats for Ghana versus Croatia, a round of 16 match on 4 July in Philadelphia and a quarter-final in Miami. The quarter-final ticket cost 1,500 US dollars. The round of 16 falls on the 250th anniversary of American independence.

Logan said the 2014 tournament atmosphere brought them back. During that trip they met another Northern Ireland supporter, John Sinclair from Carrickfergus, and have stayed in touch. Woodend expects the shirts will again start conversations and noted a strong Ulster connection to the Toronto area.

With Northern Ireland absent, both men will support England but believe France or Spain are likely winners. Woodend recalled watching Gerry Armstrong score for Northern Ireland against Spain in the 1982 World Cup as a seven-year-old, describing it as an unforgettable moment.