The World Cup playoff draw has piled immense pressure onto former world champions Italy, who must now navigate a tricky path starting with Northern Ireland to avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup. The weight of expectation is enormous, and Northern Ireland’s coach, Michael O’Neill, has already emphasized that his team has “everything to gain” in a situation where the Azzurri are favorites but carry the burden of history.
Italy will host the semi-final, a tie that the experts agree they should win. However, recent Italian form has been inconsistent, and they have dark memories of being knocked out by unheralded teams like North Macedonia in the 2022 playoffs. Northern Ireland will look to be resolute, disciplined, and exploit the psychological tension that is sure to grip the home side in March.
The winner of the Italy vs. Northern Ireland clash faces a high-stakes final against the victor of the Wales vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina tie. Crucially, the final will be played in Cardiff, giving Wales a powerful home advantage if they overcome Bosnia. Should Italy reach the final, they would face a challenging, high-intensity away fixture against a highly motivated Welsh side.
In Path D, the Republic of Ireland faces an equally crucial match, travelling to Prague to take on the Czech Republic. The Irish side is currently riding high on momentum, driven by Troy Parrott’s phenomenal five-goal run. If they win their semi-final, they will secure a home final against either Denmark or North Macedonia, giving them a clear and potent route to end their two-decade-long World Cup drought.
These European playoffs offer four final slots at the 2026 World Cup, with the semi-finals on March 26 and the finals on March 31. The focus, however, remains firmly on Path A, where Italy’s presence guarantees drama and puts the spotlight on Northern Ireland’s hopes of achieving one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.