Rome: Four-time world champions Italy will take on Northern Ireland in the semi-finals of the UEFA playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following Thursday’s draw held in Zurich. The Azzurri are fighting to return to football’s biggest stage after missing out on both the 2018 and 2022 editions.
The clash is scheduled for March 26, 2026, with Italy hosting at a venue yet to be finalised. The winner will advance to a playoff final five days later, facing either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina for a ticket to the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Italy Seeking Redemption After Qualification Struggles
Italy, who endured another turbulent qualification campaign, are aiming for their first World Cup appearance since 2014. Their opponents, Northern Ireland, face a significant challenge — they have beaten Italy only once in 11 meetings, a victory dating back to 1958.
Head coach Gennaro Gattuso urged focus on the immediate task:
“Let’s concentrate on the first match. Northern Ireland are a team we can beat. They’re physical, they have their style, and they’ll give us a good game, but we can do it.”
Ukraine Draw Sweden in High-Profile Semi-Final
War-affected Ukraine will face Sweden, whose squad may include top Premier League talents such as Liverpool’s £125 million forward Alexander Isak and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres.
Despite their star power, Sweden endured a poor qualifying run, finishing at the bottom of their group. They reached the playoffs only through their UEFA Nations League performance. Newly appointed manager Graham Potter, formerly of Brighton and Chelsea, said the team must maximise preparation time:
“We need to be in a good place in March. We have a fantastic opportunity.”
The winner of Ukraine vs Sweden will meet either Poland or Albania, the latter seeking their first-ever World Cup appearance.
Other Key Playoff Fixtures
Republic of Ireland travel to face Czech Republic, with the winner hosting Denmark or North Macedonia.
Turkey take on Romania, surprise quarter-finalists in the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The victor will meet Slovakia or Kosovo, who are attempting to reach their first finals.
All European playoff semi-finals are set for March 26, with the decisive finals on March 31.
Inter-continental Playoffs Also Confirmed
In the global playoff pathway:
New Caledonia will face Jamaica, with the winner advancing to play the seeded Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bolivia meet Suriname, aiming for their first-ever World Cup qualification. The winning side will then face Iraq in a winner-takes-all showdown.
These matches will also be played in March 2026.
With the 2026 World Cup expanding from 32 to 48 teams, several nations — including Curaçao and Uzbekistan — have already secured historic first-time qualifications.
