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Italy hosts Northern Ireland in World Cup playoffs aiming to avoid third straight failure
By The Associated Press
Associated Press
Associated Press
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Soccer WCup Playoffs-Italy FILE -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) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Luca Bruno/AP)
Soccer WCup Playoffs-Italy FILE -Italy's Pio Esposito reacts 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) (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) (Luca Bruno/AP)
Britain Wales Soccer Wales' Ben Cabango, left, and Neco Williams during a training session, in Hensol, England, Wednesday March 25, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) (PA Wire) (Nick Potts/AP)
Britain Wales Soccer Wales' Liam Cullen, left, during a training session, in Hensol, England, Wednesday March 25, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP) (PA Wire) (Nick Potts/AP)
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.
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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