Italy vs Northern Ireland Lineups World Cup Qualification 2026 – A do-or-die match will take place as Italy hosts Northern Ireland in the European playoff round of the 2026 World Cup Qualification.

This match is not merely about winning or losing, but also determines who will keep their dream alive of appearing on the world stage and who must once again postpone their hopes.

The match is scheduled to take place at Gewiss Stadium on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 08:45 PM local time.

One team will advance to the final, while the other must once again miss out on the World Cup, as Northern Ireland visits Italy in the European playoff semifinal.

The winner of this high-intensity match in Bergamo will then travel to face Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, with one place in this year’s World Cup finals at stake.

Before the match begins, here is Mansion Sports prediction for the Italy vs Northern Ireland lineups in the 2026 World Cup Qualification below.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

Italy

Italy may be four-time world champions – most recently two decades ago – but despite winning the delayed Euro 2021, they last appeared on the world stage around seven years earlier.

This is the third consecutive World Cup qualification campaign that has ended in the playoff stage, following painful defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia.

Last September, the Azzurri began Group I with a 3-0 away defeat to Norway, which forced previous coach Luciano Spalletti to step down; under new coach Gennaro Gattuso, they recorded six consecutive wins before facing Norway again.

Needing a victory by a large margin to claim the top spot – and secure direct qualification – Gattuso’s side instead suffered another disappointing defeat, as Erling Haaland scored twice in a surprising away victory.

Referring to the angry reaction of the crowd following the 4-1 defeat in Milan, the 2006 World Cup winner Gattuso requested that this week’s match be played in Bergamo rather than at his former home of San Siro.

With the reasoning that a smaller stadium could benefit Italy, he must now guide La Nazionale through a tense playoff by defeating Northern Ireland.

Seeking to avoid becoming the first world champions to miss three consecutive World Cups, the Azzurri now face an opponent that last defeated them in 1958.

The two teams last met five years ago, when a 0-0 draw at Windsor Park denied Italy automatic qualification for Qatar 2022 and led to the well-known ‘disaster’ against North Macedonia.

Northern Ireland

Although Northern Ireland fought hard for that result in Belfast, they have lost all seven previous visits to Italy with an aggregate score of 16-2, and failed to score in six of those matches.

In fact, their last goal against the Azzurri anywhere came in a friendly match in 1961, so history clearly does not favor the visitors on Thursday night.

Attempting to appear in the World Cup finals for the first time in 40 years, Northern Ireland came close during Russia 2018, but lost 1-0 on aggregate to Switzerland in the playoff stage.

This time, they must secure a victory in Italy, then defeat Wales or Bosnia to join hosts alongside Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar in Group B.

Although they only finished third in Group A of the European qualification, after losing both home and away to Germany, Northern Ireland reached the playoff stage thanks to their performance in the UEFA Nations League.

A decade after an impressive appearance at Euro 2016, Michael O'Neill has returned to manage the team – alongside his role at Blackburn Rovers – and is determined to lead this young squad forward to North America.

However, Northern Ireland’s last three competitive away victories came against weaker teams such as Lithuania, San Marino, and Luxembourg, while they have lost their last six away matches against teams ranked in the top 20 of the FIFA rankings.

Italy vs Northern Ireland Lineups World Cup Qualification 2026

Italy (3-5-2)

Amid a congested club schedule, Italy faces several injury concerns for this playoff semifinal.

In defense, Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo is absent, while Alessandro Bastoni and Gianluca Mancini both have minor injuries, but Riccardo Calafiori has been declared fit to play after a minor issue in Sunday’s EFL Cup final.

In attack, Atalanta forward Gianluca Scamacca has an adductor problem and Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa has withdrawn; the latter has been replaced by Bologna winger Nicolo Cambiaghi.

As a result, Mateo Retegui, Moise Kean, and the in-form Francesco Pio Esposito are competing for places.

Esposito has scored three goals in his last four World Cup qualification matches and recently scored Inter Milan’s last two goals in the league.

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will be monitored, while Northern Ireland’s Dan Ballard is also absent due to a hamstring injury.

Northern Ireland (5-3-2)

Tom Atcheson – who plays under O'Neill at Blackburn – has been called up from the U-21 team as cover, but two of Ruairi McConville, Ciaron Brown, and Eoin Toal are more likely to start alongside Paddy McNair in central defense.

George Saville missed the last qualification match against Luxembourg due to suspension, but has now returned to the squad, along with Shea Charles and Ali McCann who have recovered, as well as goalkeeper Pierce Charles.

This match is certain to be intense with high pressure on both sides. Italy aims to redeem past failures, while Northern Ireland arrives with the spirit to create a major upset. Who will move closer to the 2026 World Cup? The answer will be determined on the field.