Four-time world champions Italy have secured the semifinal draw for the 2026 World Cup playoffs. Coach Gennaro Gattuso’s team will face Northern Ireland on March 26, according to the slogan moderated by President Gianni Infantino at FIFA headquarters. Italy thus avoided another duel with Sweden or North Macedonia. The proud football nation failed in the playoffs ahead of the 2018 World Cup and 2022 World Cup because of these two opponents.
In the final of playoff path A, Italy will face Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina if they are successful in the semifinals. The home team, which also drew, will face the winner of the match between Wales and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final on March 31. So Italy faces a tough final in Cardiff.
On line B, Ukraine and Sweden as well as Poland and Albania first met. Türkiye hosts Romania in Line C before the winner faces Slovakia or Kosovo in the final.
Line D initially brought together Denmark and North Macedonia as well as the Czech Republic and Ireland. Like Italy, Türkiye and Denmark also have to play away matches in the final.
Jamaica vs New Caledonia
In addition to the four spots for Europe, two intercontinental playoff tournament tickets will be awarded between March 23 and 31. All six teams will be drawn as wildcards in the World Cup draw on December 5 (6pm/CET) in Washington. Intercontinental elimination matches were also drawn on Thursday in Zurich.
In Path 1 the first duel occurred between New Caledonia and Jamaica. The winner will face African representative DR Congo in the final, and the final winner will advance to the World Cup. The same applies to line 2, where Bolivia and Suriname first meet. The winner will face Iraq in the final. The matches will take place in the cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico.
