Sports

Official: Italy confirm venue for World Cup play-off vs. Northern Ireland

Published

3 days ago

4 December 2025

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: (EDITORS NOTE: In this photo taken from a remote camera from behind the goal) Moise Kean of Italy scores his team’s a first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

The FIGC has confirmed that the World Cup play-off semifinal against Northern Ireland on March 26, 2026, will be played in Bergamo.

Atalanta’s New Balance Stadium will host the World Cup play-off semifinal between Italy and Northern Ireland next March, the FIGC said in a statement on Thursday.

Italy vs. Northern Ireland to be played in Bergamo – official statement

BERGAMO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Players of Italy during the National Anthem during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) — BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Players of Italy during the National Anthem during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

“Six months after the 5-0 landslide victory over Estonia last September, which marked Gennaro Gattuso’s debut as head coach, the Stadio di Bergamo will once again host the Azzurri for the World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday, 26 March at 20:45 CET, when the Azzurri will take on Northern Ireland,” the Italian Football Federation said.

“The national team are unbeaten in Bergamo with two 5-0 victories (the other was in their first game against Malta in January 1987) and two 1-1 draws (in a friendly against Turkey in November 2006 and in the Nations League game against the Netherlands in October 2020).

Italy’s road to the 2026 World Cup

BERGAMO, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 05: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy during the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) — BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy during the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

“Italy and Northern Ireland have played each other eleven times previously, with a record of seven wins for the Azzurri, three draws, and a single defeat: the 2-1 loss on 15 January 1958 in Belfast, which stopped Italy from qualifying for the Swedish World Cup. The most recent encounter was also in Belfast, which ended in a 0-0 draw in the final Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying match that forced Italy into the play-offs.”

Italy finished as the Group I runners-up, so they’ve been forced to go through the qualifying play-off for the third consecutive time.

If the Azzurri progress to the Final, they’ll visit the winner of Wales-Bosnia and Herzegovina.