BERGAMO — Italy will play Northern Ireland in a one-legged World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final in Bergamo as they attempt to qualify for the 2026 tournament. The winner of that match will visit either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina for the play-off final.

Italy must win two play-off games to reach the 2026 World Cup after finishing second in their qualifying group. The team won six of their eight qualifying matches but lost 4-1 at home to Norway, which left them in second place in Group I.

This marks the third consecutive World Cup qualifying campaign in which Italy has dropped into the play-offs. Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and missed the 2022 tournament in Qatar. If they fail to qualify for 2026, Italy would become the first former World Cup winners to miss three consecutive tournaments.

"The play-offs will bring back horrible memories. It's sure to affect the confidence," said Emmet Gates, an Italian football writer. Gates added, "Most Italians share the same opinion: if a nation as football-mad and historically successful as Italy can't beat Northern Ireland and Wales/Bosnia, then they don't deserve to go to the World Cup in the summer."

Italy's win percentage of 75 percent in the current qualifying campaign exceeds their performance in the previous two cycles, when they won 44 percent of matches in 2022 qualifying and 58 percent in 2018 qualifying.

Gennaro Gattuso was appointed as Italy's manager in June, succeeding Luciano Spalletti. The former Italy and AC Milan midfielder oversaw five consecutive World Cup qualifying wins, including home and away victories over Estonia and Israel and an away win against Moldova.

If Italy qualify for the World Cup, they will join Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland in Group B. Italy will play their first match of the 2026 World Cup against Canada on 12 June.

Italy won their last World Cup in 2006, defeating France on penalties in the final in Berlin, Germany. That victory made Italy the second nation to win the World Cup four times. The team also won Euro 2020, beating England in the final.