As in 2018 and 2022, Italy will have to go through the play-offs to claim to compete in the 2026 World Cup. Barred at the time by Sweden then North Macedonia, the Nazionale will have no room for error – otherwise it will experience a third consecutive World Cup at home. A shame for a selection which until then had only missed two World Cups in its history, the first in 1930 (not registered) and that of 1958 (not qualified).
Given its status as the ninth nation in the world according to the FIFA rankings, Italy will be relatively protected for these play-offs as a top seed. A rank which reserves for the semi-final of this crucial event played on March 26, a home match against a team drafted via the League of Nations. Which today only concerns five potential adversaries.
Romania, Sweden and Northern Ireland will thus be added to these European dams through the League of Nations. But also the third in Group J currently dominated by Belgium ahead of North Macedonia and… Wales. These last two nations will meet in Cardiff on Tuesday for the place of first runner-up behind the Red Devils called to conclude at home in front of Liechtenstein.
A play-off final still undecided
In other words, the Azzurri have a good chance – or great risk – of encountering the Swedes and Macedonians who have done them so much harm in the past. And given the transalpine state of mind around this much-maligned Nazionale by Gennaro Gattuso, a new (bad) surprise cannot certainly be ruled out.
In the event of qualification on March 26, a continental final will still have to be managed for the Italians five days later. Still strong in their top seed status, the Azzurri should then avoid Turkey, Ukraine and Poland, or even Scotland (or Denmark). However, beware of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Albania or Ireland.
