Italy is once again facing the daunting prospect of missing out on the FIFA World Cup, as they prepare to face Northern Ireland in the European play-offs for the 2026 tournament. The draw, held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, has set the stage for a tense encounter as the four-time World Cup champions aim to avoid a third consecutive absence from the world's biggest stage.

Italy's recent struggles in World Cup qualification have been well-documented. After failing to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions, the pressure is mounting on the Azzurri to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The road to North America will begin with a single-elimination game against Northern Ireland on March 26, 2026. Should Italy prevail, they will then face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in another single-leg match for a coveted spot in the final tournament.

Northern Ireland, who qualified for the play-offs through their performance in the UEFA Nations League, will present a stern test for Italy. Despite being the lowest-ranked team Italy could have been drawn against, the Northern Irish will be looking to capitalize on the pressure weighing heavily on their opponents. "There will be immense pressure on Italy, they have obviously missed the last two World Cups," Northern Ireland coach Michael O'Neill told The Associated Press. "We have everything to gain in this situation".

Italy's path to the play-offs was sealed after a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Norway in Milan. The loss meant that Italy finished second in Group I, six points behind Norway, and were consigned to the play-offs for the third time in a row. Manuel Locatelli criticized the team's "fragile" performance and emphasized the need for improvement ahead of the March play-offs. "We tried to score the second goal, but then were fragile, and this must not happen again," Locatelli told Sky Sport Italia.

The play-off format consists of four paths, each featuring four teams. Each path includes two single-leg semi-finals, which will be held on March 26, 2026, and one single-leg final on March 31, 2026. The winners of the four finals will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Other notable play-off matchups include Ukraine against Sweden, Poland versus Albania, Turkey versus Romania, and Denmark against North Macedonia. The draw also determined the inter-continental play-off pairings, which will see teams from other confederations vying for a spot at the World Cup.

As Italy prepares for the play-offs, the weight of history and expectation looms large. The Azzurri will be desperate to avoid another qualifying catastrophe and secure their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.