Pressure on Italy as play-off hopefuls eye 2026 World Cup

PARIS – The final line-up for the 2026 World Cup will be decided over the next week, with 16 teams competing for the last four places allocated to European countries.

Twelve runners-up from the qualifying groups and four teams who earned spots through their UEFA Nations League results have a second chance to punch their tickets to football’s global showpiece.

Here is a look at the four play-off routes that will determine the remaining qualifiers for the first 48-team World Cup.

Path A

Four-time world champions Italy face immense pressure as they attempt to qualify for a first appearance at the tournament since 2014.

After lifting the trophy in 2006, Italy’s record at the World Cup has been dire. They suffered two successive group-stage exits before missing out on the 2018 and 2022 editions.

In order to avoid another qualifying failure, they must overcome Northern Ireland in Bergamo on March 26, before a potential final against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31.

“It’s only normal that there’s pressure – only if you had no blood in your veins would you not feel it,” said Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, who played in the 2006 final which the Azzurri won on penalties against France.

Northern Ireland are underdogs against Italy but hope to end a 40-year absence from the World Cup.

Wales host Bosnia in Cardiff in the other semi-final.

Manager Craig Bellamy told AFP earlier in March that he “feels a responsibility” to lead the Welsh to a second straight World Cup Finals. Their appearance at the 2022 edition in Qatar was the country’s first at the tournament in 64 years.

Path B

Ukraine’s footballers will hope to lift the morale of a war-torn nation by competing at their first World Cup in 20 years. To get there, they need to beat Sweden on neutral ground in Valencia, before a decider against either Poland or Albania.

Sweden picked up just two points in a dismal qualifying campaign but the team, now coached by former Chelsea boss Graham Potter, will get another shot on the strength of their Nations League performances.

But the Swedes will be without key man Alexander Isak as the Liverpool forward is still recovering from a broken leg.

Poland can count on 37-year-old Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, who is eyeing a third World Cup Finals appearance, but Albania – led by former Arsenal and Barca defender Sylvinho – believe they have what it takes to qualify for the first time.

Path C

Kosovo stand two wins away from a first major tournament, a decade on from their admission to football governing bodies UEFA and FIFA. They came second in their qualifying group after two wins over Sweden and a victory in Slovenia.

“It’s a massive opportunity for us. The whole country is buzzing with excitement. Everyone’s over the moon,” Kosovo captain Vedat Muriqi said on the FIFA website.

Mallorca striker Muriqi sits second only to Kylian Mbappe in the La Liga scoring charts this season with 18 goals. The 31-year-old is also Kosovo’s all-time record scorer.

Slovakia, who last featured at the World Cup in 2010, host Kosovo in Bratislava, while Turkey and Romania square off in Istanbul.

The Turks have not played at the World Cup since a surprise third place in 2002. The Romanians’ most recent Finals was in 1998.

Path D

Troy Parrott’s heroics snatched Ireland a play-off berth in November 2025, but there is still much to be done if they are to return to the World Cup stage.

The Irish, who have not featured at the Finals since 2002, head to Prague to take on the Czech Republic in the semi-finals. The winner will host the decider against Denmark or North Macedonia.

“There’s a quiet confidence in the group growing together. It’s great to see, but we know there’s a lot of hard work to come,” said Ireland assistant coach John O’Shea.

Denmark missed out on automatic qualification after a dramatic defeat by Scotland but will be expected to see off North Macedonia, whose lone major-tournament appearance came at Euro 2020.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, 39, is absent for Denmark after revealing last week that he may have played his final game, with surgery required to repair his damaged shoulder. AFP