Overview
- Monday’s World Cup qualifier against Germany takes place at Windsor Park, where the British anthem precedes matches in a venue and area closely identified with unionism.
- Belfast clubs remain tied to territory, with Crusaders’ ground in a Protestant district featuring a UVF tribute while nearby Cliftonville plays in a Catholic area divided by a peace wall that closes each evening.
- FC Crusaders chair Mark Langhammer says trauma persists and mixed fan bases are rare, even as his club hosts cross‑community tournaments and workshops to foster contact.
- Michael Boyd’s Football For All campaign deployed funding, workshops, free tickets and a fan‑led “Sea of Green” to improve atmospheres, yet he notes signs that sectarian tensions are rising again.
- Catholics account for roughly 45% of the population but an estimated 10–20% of national‑team crowds, while Catholic representation on the squad has grown to about 25%.