Italy hosts Northern Ireland in World Cup playoffs aiming to avoid third straight failure The Thu, March 26, 2026 at 9:12 AM UTC 0 1 / 0Soccer WCup PlayoffsItalyFILE Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier soccer match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) () Fourtime champion Italy hosts Northern Ireland in the standout semifinal of the World Cup playoffs in Europe on Thursday.
Italy hosts Northern Ireland in World Cup playoffs aiming to avoid third straight failure
The Thu, March 26, 2026 at 9:12 AM UTC
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1 / 0Soccer WCup Playoffs-ItalyFILE -Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier soccer match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File) ()
Four-time champion Italy hosts Northern Ireland in the standout semifinal of the World Cup playoffs in Europe on Thursday.
The Azzurri are under pressure to avoid failing to qualify for soccer's biggest event for a third consecutive time after being eliminated by Sweden in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2022.
In all, 16 teams are competing for four spots at the World Cup in North America.
Eight one-off semifinals are followed by four finals next week. The winners of the finals secure qualification.
Path A: Italy vs. Northern Ireland, Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Path B: Ukraine vs. Sweden, Poland vs. Albania.
Path C: Turkey vs. Romania, Slovakia vs. Kosovo.
Path D: Denmark vs. North Macedonia, Czech Republic vs. Ireland
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AP soccer: https://ift.tt/0HrVqNt
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: March 26, 2026 at 11:27AM on Source: RED MAG
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