First concept image of National Training Centre revealed
The Irish Football Association will confirm on Wednesday that their new National Training Centre will be located next to the Galgorm Resort, just outside Ballymena.
It is anticipated the site will consist of elite pitches and facilities for men's and women's senior and youth teams, with some financial assistance for the project being provided by government.
In a concept image released by the Irish FA to the BBC on Wednesday, four outside pitches can been seen with an indoor facility also visible.
Senior Irish FA officials will inform members of the IFA Council this week of the decision to proceed with plans for development at the County Antrim resort, with planning permission being sought.
The announcement will bring to an end a lengthy period of speculation about potential venues for the venture.
The IFA had considered basing the centre the centre in Antrim, but said that "no formal arrangements were ever agreed" for the development of a 60-acre site in the Birch Hill area.
Last month a spokesperson for the IFA told BBC News NI: "The council were clear at all times that Birch Hill Road was under strategic consideration along with several other locations, and that exploratory discussions about the site were at preliminary stages.
"No formal arrangements were ever agreed and we maintain an excellent relationship with Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council."
A statement issued by football's governing body in Northern Ireland back in September 2023 outlined their ambitions that a National Training Centre would "create a second home for Northern Ireland football to complement the excellent match venue at the National Stadium at Windsor Park".
"The intention is to create a bespoke high-quality facility with a dedicated 'Northern Ireland identity'. The Irish FA will make a significant investment into the facility and anticipates utilising capital funding from external sources, particularly those that are designed to support national associations in these types of strategic infrastructure projects."
The journey to Northern Ireland's national training centre
Stephen Watson, BBC Sport NI lead presenter
This will be exciting for news for Northern Ireland's national team managers Michael O'Neill and Tanya Oxtoby, who often hold their training camps in England, due to lack of facilities back at home.
Remember O'Neill opted to hold his pre-Euro 2016 training camp in Carton House in Dublin, so this facility has been a long time coming.
The home for this new facility will be at one of Northern Ireland's luxury hotel and spas - the Galgorm Resort. Their business is expanding and they have recently acquired the Roe Park golf resort in Limavady and Galgorm castle estate for £28 million.
Planning permission is still sought but it's my understanding that two training pitches will be built, and this may help attract an international team to use the facilities for a Euro 2028 training base - if Northern Ireland don't qualify.
There are lots of unanswered questions about how this will work, and how much funding the Stormont Executive will provide, but it's certainly a step in the right direction for international football in Northern Ireland.
We should get more answers later this week.
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