Italy will face Northern Ireland in the semi-final of the World Cup play-offs on 26 March. The draw, held at FIFA’s headquarters in Zurich and attended by head coach Gennaro Gattuso and team delegation leader Gianluigi Buffon, also confirmed that, unlike the semi-final, the Azzurri would play the potential one-off final away on 31 March against the winner of Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The two losing semi-finalists from Path A (Italy vs Northern Ireland / Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina) will play a friendly on the date and at the venue originally set for the final.

The play-offs – involving the 12 runners-up from the qualifying groups plus the four best group winners from the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League who did not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying groups – will award the final four European berths for the tournament, scheduled from 11 June to 19 July in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

GATTUSO AND BUFFON REACT

“Northern Ireland are a physical side,” warned Gattuso. “They never give up. It’s well within our grasp so we have to go out and play our game. First we focus on the semi-final, then hopefully we can talk about Bosnia or Wales. We always knew we’d have to come through the play-offs, but we’re approaching them with confidence.”

Reflecting on the recent defeat to Norway, the coach knows what must improve: “It was a heavy loss. I’ll take the first half because we played very well, but we can’t disappear from the pitch like we did afterwards. We need to work on eliminating that fragility.”

Buffon is equally convinced that Italy have what it takes to reach the World Cup: “We know we’ll need to face these two matches – because that’s what we want to do and what we will do – in the best way possible. We’ve shown many times that we have an excellent chance of qualifying.”

The setback against Norway may even prove useful. “Every now and then, like in the last match, something happens that breaks your rhythm,” Buffon noted. “But in any positive journey, just when everything seems to be going well, a setback can actually help you, restoring the humility and focus you need to move forward.”

PREVIOUS MEETINGS WITH NORTHERN IRELAND

Promoted via top spot in their Nations League (League C) group, Northern Ireland finished third in Group A of World Cup qualifying behind Germany and Slovakia, with three wins and three defeats. The sides have met 11 times, with Italy claiming seven wins, three draws and suffering one infamous defeat: the 2-1 loss in Belfast on 15 January 1958 that kept the Azzurri out of the World Cup.

The most recent encounter also took place in Belfast: a 0–0 draw in the final qualifier for Qatar 2022 that sent Italy into the play-offs.

PLAY-OFF BRACKET

(Semi-finals on Thursday 26 March, finals on Tuesday 31 March)

Path A

Italy vs Northern Ireland
Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Path B

Ukraine vs Sweden
Poland vs Albania

Path C

Slovakia vs Kosovo
Turkey vs Romania

Path D

Denmark vs North Macedonia
Czechia vs Republic of Ireland