Closer look at Italy’s possible opponents for World Cup play-offs

The path to the next World Cup runs through the play-offs once again for Italy. After missing the last two tournaments, the Azzurri face a new two-step knockout challenge, with the draw set to take place today.

Having finished second in their qualifying group behind Norway, the team led by Gennaro Gattuso secured a spot in the play-offs and will enter the draw in Zurich at 13:00 CET as a seeded team.

The Play-Off Path

Italy is placed in Pot 1 alongside Turkey, Ukraine, and Denmark, ensuring they will play their semi-final match at home. Their potential semi-final opponents come from Pot 4, the unseeded category.

The single-match semi-final is scheduled for March 26, 2026. Should they advance, the final will take place on March 31, 2026, with the venue (home or away) to be determined by today’s draw. The final opponents will come from the winner of a tie between a Pot 1 nation (Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia) and a Pot 1 nation (Ireland, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo).

Unseeded Opponents Scouting Report (Fascia 4)

The four potential semi-final adversaries each present unique dangers:

Sweden: This is considered the biggest threat, having eliminated Italy in 2017. Despite finishing disappointingly low in their group, the Scandinavians boast an “atomic attack” featuring a €190 million strike partnership of Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak. Newly appointed coach Graham Potter is attempting to mold their individual talent into a cohesive 4-4-2 team structure.

North Macedonia: The team that famously dashed Italy’s hopes in 2022 is highly organized and solid. Their strength lies in their team ethic, sacrificing for one another, and tactical setup, which is effectively a 4-5-1 low-to-medium defensive block built on counter-attacks. Key players include Napoli’s Elmas and Bardhi.

Romania: An inconsistent but talented side managed by veteran Mircea Lucescu. They are defensively suspect but capable of great moments, despite lacking a true number nine. Players like Hagi, Man, and Mihaila possess quality, and the return of Stanciu from injury will be crucial to their 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation.

Northern Ireland: This is a physical and aggressive 3-5-2 team. While lacking “true stars,” they are powerful, especially when playing at home in Belfast, and pose a significant threat from set pieces, an area where Italy has shown vulnerability.