Italy hosts Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final on Thursday. The European champions aim to avoid missing a third consecutive tournament after failing to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions. Luciano Spalletti’s side finished second in their qualifying group behind England, necessitating the play-off route.
Northern Ireland enters the fixture following a third-place finish in their respective group. Manager Michael O'Neill is expected to rely on a defensive structure to frustrate the hosts in Palermo. The winner of this tie will progress to a final against either Turkey or Portugal for a place at the 2026 World Cup, according to Sky Sports.
Italian media reports suggest concerns regarding a lack of elite attacking options in the current squad. Per The Guardian, the national team has struggled for consistent goals since their Euro 2020 victory. Italy previously suffered a shock play-off defeat by North Macedonia in 2022. Failure to win on Thursday would extend their absence from the global stage to 12 years.
