US EditionItaly Has to Beat Northern Ireland Then Wales or Bosnia to Return to the World Cup
- This afternoon both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland learn their opponents for next year's World Cup play-offs in the Uefa draw at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
- The draw seeds 16 teams—12 group runners-up and four Nations League sides—into pots 1–4, setting semi-final pairings and home/away status for one-off matches.
- Republic of Ireland occupy pot 3 and could be drawn against Poland, Wales, Czechia or Slovakia in their semi-final.
- The draw decides eight semi-finals that form four finals and four World Cup qualifiers, with semi-finals on Thursday, March 26 and finals five days later.
- Troy Parrott's late hat-trick sealed the Republic's dramatic route into the play-offs with a 96th‑minute winner, creating a slight possibility of an all‑Ireland tie against Northern Ireland.
122 Articles
122 Articles
Yesterday, after a draw at FIFA headquarters, the tetra-champion Italy knew the route to follow in order to avoid for the third consecutive occasion the penalty of being out of a World Cup. The only way that Azzurra now has to return to a World Cup is the European repechaje, where it will face in the semifinal of Group A the selection of Northern Ireland and then wait for the winner of the series between Wales and Bosnia Herzegovina.
By GRAHAM DUNBAR ZURICH (AP) — Italy was stopped by Sweden in its path to the 2018 World Cup. In 2022 it was North Macedonia. Now it's Northern Ireland's turn. Four-time World Cup winner Italy is back in the World Cup playoffs for the third consecutive time, and Thursday's FIFA draw charts a complicated path toward ending a remarkable 12-year wait to play on soccer's biggest stage. Italy will first host Northern Ireland in a knockout match on Ma…
By GRAHAM DUNBAR ZURICH (AP) — Italy was stopped by Sweden in its path to the 2018 World Cup. In 2022 it was North Macedonia. Now it's Northern Ireland's turn. Four-time World Cup winner Italy is back in the World Cup playoffs for the third consecutive time, and Thursday's FIFA draw charts a complicated path toward ending a remarkable 12-year wait to play on soccer's biggest stage. Italy will first host Northern Ireland in a knockout match on Ma…
Italy has to beat Northern Ireland then Wales or Bosnia to return to the World Cup | Sports-Games
Italy has to beat Northern Ireland then Wales or Bosnia to return to the World Cup Italy was stopped by Sweden from getting to the 2018 World Cup. It was North Macedonia in 2022. Now it is Northern Ireland's turn.Four-time World Cup winner Italy is back in the qualifying playoffs for a third straight time and the draw by FIFA on Thursday plots a tricky path toward ending a remarkable 12-year wait to play on soccer's biggest stage.Italy first hos…
UEFA reveals 2026 World Cup play-offs draw: Italy to host Northern Ireland, Sweden takes on Ukraine
Four more teams will be qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from Europe via play-offs the draw for which was revealed on Thursday. Italy will have to defeat Northern Ireland and then Wales or Bosnia to return to the World Cup.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
