Windsor Park is set to host a first Northern Ireland international game on a Sunday following yesterday’s 2016 European Championships draw.
Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.
Before the draw, UEFA had decided Sunday would be one of the days on which qualifying matches would be played.
Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group F along with Hungary, Faroe Islands, Greece, Finland and Romania.
Michael O’Neill’s side will open their campaign away to Hungary on Sunday, 7 September next with their first home match against Faroe Islands on Saturday, 11 October.
Given the fact, the Irish Football Association (IFA) signed up to the competition’s rules prior to yesterday’s draw in Nice, the Belfast venue is set to host the historic game when Finland willthe visitors on 29 March next year.
For 60 years, no Sunday football was allowed in Northern Ireland for religious reasons.
The IFA scrapped the ban in November 2007 although only a couple of senior football clubs have opted to play games on a Sunday since.
The Northern Ireland national team have played a number of internationals on Sundays, including a game against France at the 1982 World Cup in Spain when squad member Johnny Jameson refused to make himself available because of his Christian beliefs.
Linfield, the owners of Windsor Park, have also made clear their opposition to playing games on a Sunday.
Two other NI games are scheduled for Sundays, but they are away to Hungary on 7 September this year and the final qualifier in Finland on 11 October next year.
Northern Ireland’s fixtures are:
Sunday, 7 September: Hungary 2014 (away);
Saturday, 11 October 2014: Faroe Islands (home)
Tuesday, 14 October: Greece 2014 (A)
Friday, 14 November 2014: Romania (away);
Sunday, 29 March 2015: Finland (home);
Saturday, 13 June 2015: Romania (home);
Friday, 4 September 2015: Faroe Islands (away);
Monday, 7 September 2015: Hungary (home);
Thursday, 8 October 2015: Greece (home);
Sunday, 11 October 2015: Finland (away).
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