Marissa Callaghan has hailed the positive impact sport can have on society.
Callaghan and her Northern Ireland teammates are still celebrating after qualifying for the 2022 Euro finals.
Their play-off win over Ukraine was a historic moment, with it being the first time the team has ever qualified for a major tournament.
It has been a positive news story for Northern Ireland following the recent scenes of street violence here.
And international captain Callaghan believes it is the latest example of sport bringing communities together.
"It has been a strange couple of weeks," Callaghan told Belfast Live's That's What I Call Football podcast.
"Whenever you're in camp you almost don't see or know what's happening in the outside world, so we were only getting little snippets.
"We have an amazing country here in Northern Ireland. We have some amazing people. And football, or any sport, brings everyone together.
"We saw that with the likes of Carl Frampton. What a guy, and not just for what he did in the boxing ring, but how he brought this whole country together through his success.
"And also the success of the Northern Ireland team in qualifying for the 2016 Euros, that had a similar impact.
"I remember going down to the big screen in Belfast to watch the Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland games, and it was just such a brilliant atmosphere.
"Hopefully next year we can do the same and they out the big screens up for us, and as many families go down and enjoy our games."
Northern Ireland will discover their Euro finals opponents when the draw is made in October.
The finals will be played in England next July, and Callaghan hopes the Green and White Army turn out in force to cheer on the team.
"We have no doubt the Green and White Army will travel to England next summer for our games," she added.
"In 2016 our fans were incredible in France, we have the award to prove it.
"So hopefully the whole country gets behind us."
