Italy host Northern Ireland in the World Cup Qualification Europe on 26 March 2026, Thursday. Get our free predictions, betting tips, odds insights, team form guide & H2H stats for this clash. This fixture is scheduled to kicks off at 19:45 UK Time.
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
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.
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 -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.
| Italy | Northern Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Played | 9 | 6 |
| Wins | 7 | 3 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Loss | 2 | 3 |
| Goals For | 23 | 7 |
| Goals Against | 12 | 6 |
| Italy | Northern Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Game Played | 5 | 3 |
| Wins | 4 | 1 |
| Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Loss | 1 | 2 |
| Goals For | 13 | 4 |
| Goals Against | 4 | 5 |
|
03.06.26
|
Luxembourg Italy |
0-1 |
|
31.03.26
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina Italy (Penalties:4 - 1) |
1-1 |
|
26.03.26
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
16.11.25
|
Italy Norway |
1-4 |
|
13.11.25
|
Moldova Italy |
0-2 |
|
14.10.25
|
Italy Israel |
3-0 |
|
11.10.25
|
Estonia Italy |
1-3 |
|
08.09.25
|
Israel Italy |
4-5 |
|
05.09.25
|
Italy Estonia |
5-0 |
|
09.06.25
|
Italy Moldova |
2-0 |
|
06.06.25
|
Norway Italy |
3-0 |
|
23.03.25
|
Germany Italy |
3-3 |
|
20.03.25
|
Italy Germany |
1-2 |
|
17.11.24
|
Italy France |
1-3 |
|
14.11.24
|
Belgium Italy |
0-1 |
|
14.10.24
|
Italy Israel |
4-1 |
|
10.10.24
|
Italy Belgium |
2-2 |
|
09.09.24
|
Israel Italy |
1-2 |
|
06.09.24
|
France Italy |
1-3 |
|
29.06.24
|
Switzerland Italy |
2-0 |
|
24.06.24
|
Croatia Italy |
1-1 |
|
20.06.24
|
Spain Italy |
1-0 |
|
15.06.24
|
Italy Albania |
2-1 |
|
09.06.24
|
Italy Bosnia & Herzegovina |
1-0 |
|
04.06.24
|
Italy Turkey |
0-0 |
|
24.03.24
|
Ecuador Italy |
0-2 |
|
21.03.24
|
Italy Venezuela |
2-1 |
|
20.11.23
|
Ukraine Italy |
0-0 |
|
17.11.23
|
Italy North Macedonia |
5-2 |
|
17.10.23
|
England Italy |
3-1 |
|
14.10.23
|
Italy Malta |
4-0 |
|
12.09.23
|
Italy Ukraine |
2-1 |
|
09.09.23
|
North Macedonia Italy |
1-1 |
|
18.06.23
|
Netherlands Italy |
2-3 |
|
15.06.23
|
Spain Italy |
2-1 |
|
26.03.23
|
Malta Italy |
0-2 |
|
23.03.23
|
Italy England |
1-2 |
|
20.11.22
|
Austria Italy |
2-0 |
|
16.11.22
|
Albania Italy |
1-3 |
|
26.09.22
|
Hungary Italy |
0-2 |
|
23.09.22
|
Italy England |
1-0 |
|
14.06.22
|
Germany Italy |
5-2 |
|
11.06.22
|
England Italy |
0-0 |
|
07.06.22
|
Italy Hungary |
2-1 |
|
04.06.22
|
Italy Germany |
1-1 |
|
01.06.22
|
Italy Argentina |
0-3 |
|
01.06.22
|
Italy Argentina |
0-3 |
|
29.03.22
|
Turkey Italy |
2-3 |
|
24.03.22
|
Italy North Macedonia |
0-1 |
|
15.11.21
|
Northern Ireland Italy |
0-0 |
|
26.03.26
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
16.11.25
|
Italy Norway |
1-4 |
|
14.10.25
|
Italy Israel |
3-0 |
|
05.09.25
|
Italy Estonia |
5-0 |
|
09.06.25
|
Italy Moldova |
2-0 |
|
20.03.25
|
Italy Germany |
1-2 |
|
17.11.24
|
Italy France |
1-3 |
|
14.10.24
|
Italy Israel |
4-1 |
|
10.10.24
|
Italy Belgium |
2-2 |
|
15.06.24
|
Italy Albania |
2-1 |
|
09.06.24
|
Italy Bosnia & Herzegovina |
1-0 |
|
04.06.24
|
Italy Turkey |
0-0 |
|
21.03.24
|
Italy Venezuela |
2-1 |
|
17.11.23
|
Italy North Macedonia |
5-2 |
|
14.10.23
|
Italy Malta |
4-0 |
|
12.09.23
|
Italy Ukraine |
2-1 |
|
23.03.23
|
Italy England |
1-2 |
|
23.09.22
|
Italy England |
1-0 |
|
07.06.22
|
Italy Hungary |
2-1 |
|
04.06.22
|
Italy Germany |
1-1 |
|
01.06.22
|
Italy Argentina |
0-3 |
|
01.06.22
|
Italy Argentina |
0-3 |
|
24.03.22
|
Italy North Macedonia |
0-1 |
|
12.11.21
|
Italy Switzerland |
1-1 |
|
10.10.21
|
Italy Belgium |
2-1 |
|
06.10.21
|
Italy Spain |
1-2 |
|
08.09.21
|
Italy Lithuania |
5-0 |
|
02.09.21
|
Italy Bulgaria |
1-1 |
|
11.07.21
|
Italy England (Penalties:3 - 2) |
1-1 |
|
06.07.21
|
Italy Spain (Penalties:4 - 2) |
1-1 |
|
26.06.21
|
Italy Austria |
2-1 |
|
20.06.21
|
Italy Wales |
1-0 |
|
16.06.21
|
Italy Switzerland |
3-0 |
|
04.06.21
|
Italy Czech Republic |
4-0 |
|
28.05.21
|
Italy San Marino |
7-0 |
|
25.03.21
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
15.11.20
|
Italy Poland |
2-0 |
|
11.11.20
|
Italy Estonia |
4-0 |
|
14.10.20
|
Italy Netherlands |
1-1 |
|
07.10.20
|
Italy Moldova |
6-0 |
|
04.09.20
|
Italy Bosnia & Herzegovina |
1-1 |
|
18.11.19
|
Italy Armenia |
9-1 |
|
12.10.19
|
Italy Greece |
2-0 |
|
11.06.19
|
Italy Bosnia & Herzegovina |
2-1 |
|
26.03.19
|
Italy Liechtenstein |
6-0 |
|
03.06.26
|
Luxembourg Italy |
0-1 |
|
31.03.26
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina Italy (Penalties:4 - 1) |
1-1 |
|
13.11.25
|
Moldova Italy |
0-2 |
|
11.10.25
|
Estonia Italy |
1-3 |
|
08.09.25
|
Israel Italy |
4-5 |
|
06.06.25
|
Norway Italy |
3-0 |
|
23.03.25
|
Germany Italy |
3-3 |
|
14.11.24
|
Belgium Italy |
0-1 |
|
09.09.24
|
Israel Italy |
1-2 |
|
06.09.24
|
France Italy |
1-3 |
|
29.06.24
|
Switzerland Italy |
2-0 |
|
24.06.24
|
Croatia Italy |
1-1 |
|
20.06.24
|
Spain Italy |
1-0 |
|
24.03.24
|
Ecuador Italy |
0-2 |
|
20.11.23
|
Ukraine Italy |
0-0 |
|
17.10.23
|
England Italy |
3-1 |
|
09.09.23
|
North Macedonia Italy |
1-1 |
|
18.06.23
|
Netherlands Italy |
2-3 |
|
15.06.23
|
Spain Italy |
2-1 |
|
26.03.23
|
Malta Italy |
0-2 |
|
20.11.22
|
Austria Italy |
2-0 |
|
16.11.22
|
Albania Italy |
1-3 |
|
26.09.22
|
Hungary Italy |
0-2 |
|
14.06.22
|
Germany Italy |
5-2 |
|
11.06.22
|
England Italy |
0-0 |
|
29.03.22
|
Turkey Italy |
2-3 |
|
15.11.21
|
Northern Ireland Italy |
0-0 |
|
05.09.21
|
Switzerland Italy |
0-0 |
|
02.07.21
|
Belgium Italy |
1-2 |
|
11.06.21
|
Turkey Italy |
0-3 |
|
31.03.21
|
Lithuania Italy |
0-2 |
|
28.03.21
|
Bulgaria Italy |
0-2 |
|
18.11.20
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina Italy |
0-2 |
|
11.10.20
|
Poland Italy |
0-0 |
|
07.09.20
|
Netherlands Italy |
0-1 |
|
15.11.19
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina Italy |
0-3 |
|
15.10.19
|
Liechtenstein Italy |
0-5 |
|
08.09.19
|
Finland Italy |
1-2 |
|
05.09.19
|
Armenia Italy |
1-3 |
|
08.06.19
|
Greece Italy |
0-3 |
|
08.06.26
|
France Northern Ireland |
3-1 |
|
04.06.26
|
Northern Ireland Guinea |
1-0 |
|
31.03.26
|
Wales Northern Ireland |
1-1 |
|
26.03.26
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
17.11.25
|
Northern Ireland Luxembourg |
1-0 |
|
14.11.25
|
Slovakia Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
13.10.25
|
Northern Ireland Germany |
0-1 |
|
10.10.25
|
Northern Ireland Slovakia |
2-0 |
|
07.09.25
|
Germany Northern Ireland |
3-1 |
|
04.09.25
|
Luxembourg Northern Ireland |
1-3 |
|
10.06.25
|
Northern Ireland Iceland |
1-0 |
|
07.06.25
|
Denmark Northern Ireland |
2-1 |
|
25.03.25
|
Sweden Northern Ireland |
5-1 |
|
21.03.25
|
Northern Ireland Switzerland |
1-1 |
|
18.11.24
|
Luxembourg Northern Ireland |
2-2 |
|
15.11.24
|
Northern Ireland Belarus |
2-0 |
|
15.10.24
|
Northern Ireland Bulgaria |
5-0 |
|
12.10.24
|
Belarus Northern Ireland |
0-0 |
|
08.09.24
|
Bulgaria Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
05.09.24
|
Northern Ireland Luxembourg |
2-0 |
|
11.06.24
|
Northern Ireland Andorra |
2-0 |
|
08.06.24
|
Spain Northern Ireland |
5-1 |
|
26.03.24
|
Scotland Northern Ireland |
0-1 |
|
22.03.24
|
Romania Northern Ireland |
1-1 |
|
20.11.23
|
Northern Ireland Denmark |
2-0 |
|
17.11.23
|
Finland Northern Ireland |
4-0 |
|
17.10.23
|
Northern Ireland Slovenia |
0-1 |
|
14.10.23
|
Northern Ireland San Marino |
3-0 |
|
10.09.23
|
Kazakhstan Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
07.09.23
|
Slovenia Northern Ireland |
4-2 |
|
19.06.23
|
Northern Ireland Kazakhstan |
0-1 |
|
16.06.23
|
Denmark Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
26.03.23
|
Northern Ireland Finland |
0-1 |
|
23.03.23
|
San Marino Northern Ireland |
0-2 |
|
27.09.22
|
Greece Northern Ireland |
3-1 |
|
24.09.22
|
Northern Ireland Kosovo |
2-1 |
|
12.06.22
|
Northern Ireland Cyprus |
2-2 |
|
09.06.22
|
Kosovo Northern Ireland |
3-2 |
|
05.06.22
|
Cyprus Northern Ireland |
0-0 |
|
02.06.22
|
Northern Ireland Greece |
0-1 |
|
29.03.22
|
Northern Ireland Hungary |
0-1 |
|
25.03.22
|
Luxembourg Northern Ireland |
1-3 |
|
15.11.21
|
Northern Ireland Italy |
0-0 |
|
12.11.21
|
Northern Ireland Lithuania |
1-0 |
|
12.10.21
|
Bulgaria Northern Ireland |
2-1 |
|
09.10.21
|
Switzerland Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
08.09.21
|
Northern Ireland Switzerland |
0-0 |
|
05.09.21
|
Estonia Northern Ireland |
0-1 |
|
02.09.21
|
Lithuania Northern Ireland |
1-4 |
|
03.06.21
|
Ukraine Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
04.06.26
|
Northern Ireland Guinea |
1-0 |
|
17.11.25
|
Northern Ireland Luxembourg |
1-0 |
|
13.10.25
|
Northern Ireland Germany |
0-1 |
|
10.10.25
|
Northern Ireland Slovakia |
2-0 |
|
10.06.25
|
Northern Ireland Iceland |
1-0 |
|
21.03.25
|
Northern Ireland Switzerland |
1-1 |
|
15.11.24
|
Northern Ireland Belarus |
2-0 |
|
15.10.24
|
Northern Ireland Bulgaria |
5-0 |
|
05.09.24
|
Northern Ireland Luxembourg |
2-0 |
|
11.06.24
|
Northern Ireland Andorra |
2-0 |
|
20.11.23
|
Northern Ireland Denmark |
2-0 |
|
17.10.23
|
Northern Ireland Slovenia |
0-1 |
|
14.10.23
|
Northern Ireland San Marino |
3-0 |
|
19.06.23
|
Northern Ireland Kazakhstan |
0-1 |
|
26.03.23
|
Northern Ireland Finland |
0-1 |
|
24.09.22
|
Northern Ireland Kosovo |
2-1 |
|
12.06.22
|
Northern Ireland Cyprus |
2-2 |
|
02.06.22
|
Northern Ireland Greece |
0-1 |
|
29.03.22
|
Northern Ireland Hungary |
0-1 |
|
15.11.21
|
Northern Ireland Italy |
0-0 |
|
12.11.21
|
Northern Ireland Lithuania |
1-0 |
|
08.09.21
|
Northern Ireland Switzerland |
0-0 |
|
31.03.21
|
Northern Ireland Bulgaria |
0-0 |
|
28.03.21
|
Northern Ireland USA |
1-2 |
|
18.11.20
|
Northern Ireland Romania |
1-1 |
|
12.11.20
|
Northern Ireland Slovakia |
1-2 |
|
11.10.20
|
Northern Ireland Austria |
0-1 |
|
07.09.20
|
Northern Ireland Norway |
1-5 |
|
16.11.19
|
Northern Ireland Netherlands |
0-0 |
|
09.09.19
|
Northern Ireland Germany |
0-2 |
|
05.09.19
|
Northern Ireland Luxembourg |
1-0 |
|
24.03.19
|
Northern Ireland Belarus |
2-1 |
|
21.03.19
|
Northern Ireland Estonia |
2-0 |
|
18.11.18
|
Northern Ireland Austria |
1-2 |
|
11.09.18
|
Northern Ireland Israel |
3-0 |
|
08.09.18
|
Northern Ireland Bosnia & Herzegovina |
1-2 |
|
02.06.17
|
Northern Ireland New Zealand |
1-0 |
|
08.06.26
|
France Northern Ireland |
3-1 |
|
31.03.26
|
Wales Northern Ireland |
1-1 |
|
26.03.26
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
14.11.25
|
Slovakia Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
07.09.25
|
Germany Northern Ireland |
3-1 |
|
04.09.25
|
Luxembourg Northern Ireland |
1-3 |
|
07.06.25
|
Denmark Northern Ireland |
2-1 |
|
25.03.25
|
Sweden Northern Ireland |
5-1 |
|
18.11.24
|
Luxembourg Northern Ireland |
2-2 |
|
12.10.24
|
Belarus Northern Ireland |
0-0 |
|
08.09.24
|
Bulgaria Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
08.06.24
|
Spain Northern Ireland |
5-1 |
|
26.03.24
|
Scotland Northern Ireland |
0-1 |
|
22.03.24
|
Romania Northern Ireland |
1-1 |
|
17.11.23
|
Finland Northern Ireland |
4-0 |
|
10.09.23
|
Kazakhstan Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
07.09.23
|
Slovenia Northern Ireland |
4-2 |
|
16.06.23
|
Denmark Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
23.03.23
|
San Marino Northern Ireland |
0-2 |
|
27.09.22
|
Greece Northern Ireland |
3-1 |
|
09.06.22
|
Kosovo Northern Ireland |
3-2 |
|
05.06.22
|
Cyprus Northern Ireland |
0-0 |
|
25.03.22
|
Luxembourg Northern Ireland |
1-3 |
|
12.10.21
|
Bulgaria Northern Ireland |
2-1 |
|
09.10.21
|
Switzerland Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
05.09.21
|
Estonia Northern Ireland |
0-1 |
|
02.09.21
|
Lithuania Northern Ireland |
1-4 |
|
03.06.21
|
Ukraine Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
30.05.21
|
Malta Northern Ireland |
0-3 |
|
25.03.21
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
15.11.20
|
Austria Northern Ireland |
2-1 |
|
14.10.20
|
Norway Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
08.10.20
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina Northern Ireland (Penalties:3 - 4) |
1-1 |
|
04.09.20
|
Romania Northern Ireland |
1-1 |
|
19.11.19
|
Germany Northern Ireland |
6-1 |
|
14.10.19
|
Czech Republic Northern Ireland |
2-3 |
|
10.10.19
|
Netherlands Northern Ireland |
3-1 |
|
11.06.19
|
Belarus Northern Ireland |
0-1 |
|
08.06.19
|
Estonia Northern Ireland |
1-2 |
|
15.11.18
|
Ireland Northern Ireland |
0-0 |
|
15.10.18
|
Bosnia & Herzegovina Northern Ireland |
2-0 |
|
12.10.18
|
Austria Northern Ireland |
1-0 |
|
15.11.2021
|
Northern Ireland Italy |
0-0
|
|
25.03.2021
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0
|
|
25.03.2021
|
Italy Northern Ireland |
2-0
|