Italy are not at the World Cup yet. That’s the simple answer, even if the full story is a bit more complicated. For a team with their history, this situation feels strange. Not long ago, qualifying was expected. Now, it has become something they have to fight for. Missing the 2018 and 2022 tournaments still hangs over this group, and you can sense that pressure in the way this campaign has played out.
The main reason they are in this position is because they did not qualify directly. Italy finished second in their group behind Norway, which pushed them into the playoffs. It is not where they wanted to be, but it is the reality they have had to deal with. As a result, their qualification depended on whether they are able to go through the playoffs.
Did Italy win the first playoff game?
Italy did what was needed in the first playoff game. Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in their first playoff game, with Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean getting the goals. It was not flashy, but it was solid, and at this stage that is all that matters.
𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗬 𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘 🇮🇹🔥
Italy keep their FIFA World Cup 2026 hopes alive after beating Northern Ireland to reach the playoffs final! 👏✅#Italy #FIFAWorldCup2026 #Football pic.twitter.com/wUerSsXPcl
— Sportskeeda Football (@skworldfootball) March 26, 2026
Even after that win, nothing is guaranteed. Italy still need one more result to make it to the FIFA World Cup. They will play Bosnia and Herzegovina on March 31, 2026 in the playoff final. It is a straight knockout. Win the match and they are in. Lose it and they miss out again.
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There is no need to overcomplicate it. Everything now comes down to those ninety minutes. For the players, it is a chance to fix what has gone wrong in the past few years. For the fans, it is more about relief than anything else. They just want to see Italy back where they feel they belong.
So, are Italy playing in the World Cup? Not yet. But they are very close, and it all depends on how they handle one last game. That said, it will be interesting to see if they could secure a spot finally after missing out on the previous editions.
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