Four-time champions, Italy face Northern Ireland in a crunch play-off semi-final in their bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Victory would see Italy or Northern Ireland make the trip to the winner of Wales’ play-off semi-final against Bosnia & Herzegovina on Tuesday 31 March in the Path A Play-Off Final.
Team News
Italy will be without goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario after he ruled himself out of contention prior to the squad announcement, due to required hernia surgery.
Liverpool forward, Federico Chiesa has withdrawn from the squad following a fitness assessment upon arrival to the camp.
Northern Ireland will be without defender, Dan Ballard after he recently suffered a hamstring injury during Sunderland’s 1-0 Premier League loss at home to Brighton, which forced him to miss their subsequent Tyne-Wear derby comeback victory at Newcastle.
When is Kick-Off?
Italy meet Northern Ireland at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, Bergamo, on Thursday 26 March at 8:45pm CET (7:45pm GMT), live on BBC One Northern Ireland and on BBC Three across rest of UK.
Stat Attack
- Italy have lost just one of their four previous FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Northern Ireland (W2, D1, L1).
- Northern Ireland lost each of their two previous FIFA World Cup Qualifying visits to Italy (L2), as they lost 1-0 in April 1957 then 2-0 in March 2021.
- Italy have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home matches (W3, L1)
- Northern Ireland have won one of their last five matches in all competitions (W1, L4).
Prediction
Given their home form in the group phase, Italy on paper are favourites and should comfortably win this tie but they will be wary of the fact that they failed to qualify for the last two World Cup editions, which could play a psychological part in proceedings if stay level late on.
Northern Ireland meanwhile are underdogs and this does feel like a free hit but I do think that they have to primarily go defensive and play on the counter-attack, otherwise this could be a long evening for them if they’re not careful and their lack of away clean sheets is another worry.
As good as it would be to see Northern Ireland cause a cupset, I really just can’t see Italy losing this if they turn up with the right attitude and deliver.
Prediction: Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
Result: Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland