Italy, the four-time world champions, missed the last two FIFA World Cups after dramatic defeats in the qualifying play-offs. With their hopes previously dashed by Sweden and North Macedonia, the Azzurri now face the threat of failing to reach the tournament for a third consecutive time. However, they have been handed another opportunity to secure their place.
Italy’s Path Through the European Play-Offs
Italy must navigate the European play-offs, where strong sides such as Wales, Poland, Sweden, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland are also competing. This time, Italy will need to win two straight matches to book their World Cup ticket for the first time since 2014.
They will begin their campaign against Northern Ireland in the play-off semi-finals. Should they win, they will face the winner of the Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina clash in the final.
“𝑰𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆,” 𝒂 𝒇𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒚𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒛𝒛𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒊.
In the previous two cycles, Italy were knocked out in the semi-finals — first by Sweden, then by North Macedonia — making this run even more crucial.
Other Key Play-Off Match-Ups Across Europe
The Republic of Ireland, which impressed with notable wins over Portugal and Hungary, will take on the Czech Republic. The winner of that tie will then meet either Denmark or North Macedonia in the final.
Ukraine will battle Sweden in one semi-final, with the winner meeting Poland or Albania B. Meanwhile:
- Turkey vs. Romania
- Slovakia vs. Kosovo
The winners of these ties will face each other in their respective finals.
“𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚-𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔,” 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂.
Intercontinental Play-Off Picture
Outside Europe, Jamaica will face New Caledonia in a semi-final, and the victor will go on to challenge DR Congo for a World Cup place.
Iraq, on the other hand, will take on either Bolivia or Suriname to earn a spot in the intercontinental play-off final.
World Cup Qualification Overview
Forty-two teams have already secured qualification for the expanded 48-team World Cup. Europe will contribute four more teams through these play-offs, while two additional spots will be decided via intercontinental match-ups.
The play-off semi-finals are scheduled for March 26, with the finals set for March 31. Official venues will be confirmed on December 19.
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