Conor Bradley, the 21-year-old Liverpool star, has expressed his ambition to help Northern Ireland qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, calling it the "thing of dreams." Bradley, who has already earned 24 caps and scored four goals for his national team, has become a pivotal player under manager Michael O'Neill. Despite missing recent friendly matches against Switzerland and Sweden, Bradley is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers starting in September.

"That's everyone's dream," Bradley said, reflecting on the possibility of reaching the World Cup. "We know how difficult it is because not many Northern Ireland teams have done it, we know how special it would be. It would be unbelievable, the thing of dreams. Hopefully one day we can get there and if we keep working hard, I'm pretty sure we can."

Northern Ireland has faced significant changes in its squad, with the retirements of key players like Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, and Jonny Evans. In response, O'Neill has turned to younger talents such as Bradley, Shea Charles, Isaac Price, and Trai Hume. Bradley acknowledges the team's potential but emphasizes the need for continued growth and experience.

"We've got potential but we need to fulfil that," Bradley added. "Obviously we're still really young as it is, we've lost a lot of experience. We have to keep getting experience together and keep improving together, hopefully there'll be good things around the corner."

Bradley's leadership and performance will be critical as Northern Ireland aims to become the fourth team in its history to reach the World Cup. The journey begins this September, and with players like Bradley leading the charge, the dream of World Cup qualification is more alive than ever.