Italy heading to the 2026 World Cup: possible playoff opponents

Italy towards the 2026 World Cup now has definitively clear ideas about its fate. At the play-offs, to be held between March 26 and 31, 2026, coach Gennaro Gattuso’s Azzurri will have to contend with one of Northern Ireland, Romania and, above all, the bogeymen of 2018 and 2022. Completing the picture are in fact Sweden and North Macedonia, the same opponents who interrupted the national team’s path by excluding it from the last two editions of the World Cup.

This is the fruit of the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which came to a conclusion on Tuesday evening. The’last doubt concerned North Macedonia, which could prevail over Wales. The round 7-1 obtained by the British in the direct clash, however, made official the scenario that certainly scared Italy the most. If only from a superstitious point of view.

On Thursday, Nov. 20, the draw will take place, which will determine Italy&#8217s path in the playoffs that will take the last four selections from Europe to the 2026 World Cup. The Azzurri are in the first bracket, which is why in the first round they will face one of the four national teams in the fourth: Northern Ireland, North Macedonia, Romania or Sweden, precisely. This first clash will take place at home for the Azzurri. The eventual final, on the other hand, could potentially be against anyone but the other components of the first round: Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine. In this case, the venue will instead be the result of a draw.

Here is the complete picture of the European national teams in the playoffs, broken down by brackets:

FIRST BAND: Italy, Ukraine, Denmark, Turkey

SECOND BAND: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Wales

THIRD BAND: Ireland, Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo

FURTH BAND: Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, and Northern Macedonia