Italy vs Northern Ireland Prediction & Betting Tips

Italy vs Northern Ireland Match Preview

An entire nation holds its breath this Thursday as Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy welcomes Northern Ireland to Bergamo for a do-or-die World Cup qualifying playoff.

Desperate to end an agonizing twelve-year absence from football’s biggest stage, the Azzurri must overcome the ghosts of 2021 against a resilient, pressure-free visiting side.

With a ticket to the playoff final on the line, expect a tense, high-stakes battle of attrition at the Gewiss Stadium

No room for Error for the Italians

Pride at stake for the Italians as they aim to qualify for the World Cup atter missing out on 2018 and 2022 editions. Their first hurdle is Northern Ireland, a team that notoriously held them to a goal-less draw in Belfast in November 2021 forcing the play-offs that they eventually lost to Northern Macedonia, missing the tickets to Qatar.

There is enough reason for the Azzurri to feel confident here with a perfect home record winning all 5 home matches against Northern Ireland.

Moreover, Gennaro Gattuso has turned this team into a goal scoring machine since taking charge midway through the qualifiers. The team netted 18 goals in the 6-match winning run in charge before getting thrashed 4-1 in the dead rubber by the Norwegians.

Nothing to lose for Northern Ireland

The Norn Iron made it to the play-offs through their UEFA Nations League seeding after a disastrous qualifying campaign, finishing third in the group behind Germany and Slovakia, securing 9 points from possible 18.

Michael O’Neill’s can be competitive in their home turf, but they fail to assert any influence while playing on the road. Their recent since March 2024 are against the likes of Luxembourg and San Marino and are poised to struggle on Thursday night.

Italy vs Northern Ireland Prediction

Italy -1.5 Asian Handicap priced at 1.99 odds is the best bet for this match considering the quality with the hosts and their recent comfortable home wins against teams similar to Northern Ireland.

Goals are expected at Bergamo since Italy’s three wins before losing to Norway saw 10 goals. Meanwhile, the visitors’ recent away defeats to quality teams like Germany, Denmark and Sweden registered 4 of more goals. So, the over 2.5 goals at fulltime priced at 1.87 odds is a solid value bet.

My correct score prediction is Italy 3-0, since Genaro Gattuso’s men tend to give nothing away against low ranked opponents at their home turf and Northern Ireland have failed to score in their 5 visits to Italian soil.

Arun- March 22, 2026

Italy vs Northern Ireland Betting Tips

Italy -1.5 Asian Handicap

OK

1.99 Odds

Over 2.5 goals

OK

1.87 Odds

Italy 3-0

OK

8.00 Odds