FIFA world ranking: 41
Manager: Francesco Calzona
Last World Cup finals appearance: 2010 (Round of 16)
The last time these side met there were a few broken hearts around Belfast because Slovakia ended hopes of a Northern Irish appearance at the delayed 2020 Euros.
A 2-1 extra-time defeat in a play-off final at Windsor Park in November 2020 saw Ian Baraclough’s side miss out on what would have been back-to-back Euros appearances.
While Slovakia have not appeared at a World Cup finals since 2010, they have reached the past three European Championships.
In five meetings with Northern Ireland, they have only lost one of them. It was their first match, a friendly in 1998, with Steve Lomas sealing a 1-0 at Windsor Park.
Slovakia have won all the competitive meetings between the sides in World Cup qualifying before the 2010 finals and that recent Euro 2020 play-off final.
Their most recent Nations League campaign saw them finish second in Group C1 behind Sweden and they will face Slovenia in a promotion/relegation play-off in March for the chance to move into Group B.