⚠️ Top Champions League draw: Italy’s playoff rivals to watch 👀

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·20. November 2025

⚠️ Top Champions League draw: Italy’s playoff rivals to watch 👀

The potential home final would have been the cherry on top, but Italy can still be satisfied with the World Cup playoff draw that took place a few hours ago.

Having avoided the dangers of Sweden (and Poland), the Azzurri will face Northern Ireland in the semifinals, in a match that will most likely be played in Bergamo.

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And then? If this hurdle is overcome – hopefully – the final act will take place in Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina, the two teams in the other semifinal of Path A.

Few stars on the pitch, but the dangers that could arise from these two matches should not be underestimated: here is a complete guide to the opponents to beat to reach the 2026 World Cup.

⚠️ THE DANGERS OF NORTHERN IRELAND

Three wins in six games and a third place finish in Group A behind Germany and Slovakia: this is the record of Northern Ireland, who reached the playoffs with a young team that still hides some threats.

Coach O’Neill can count on a group with several players who are well acquainted with the pace of English football.

The most well-known name is Conor Bradley, Liverpool’s full-back and already a key player for the national team. But keep an eye also on Jamie Donley, the 2005-born attacking midfielder from Tottenham, currently on loan at Stoke City.

NORTHERN IRELAND’S LATEST LINEUP

TYPICAL LINEUP (3-4-2-1): Peacock-Farrell; Hume, Ballard, McNair; Bradley, Lyos, Saville, Devenny; Galbraith, Price; Donley. Coach: O'Neill.

👀 BOSNIA OR WALES IN THE POSSIBLE FINAL? HOW THEY PLAY

A more than positive campaign for Bosnia in Group H of World Cup qualifying: Sergej Barbarez’s team finished second, behind Arnautovic’s Austria, collecting 17 points in 8 matches. The magic of Miralem Pjanić’s free kicks is now a thing of the past, but the influence of the old guard remains central to the group.

Edin Džeko continues to be the captain and the beacon of the national team, both a technical and charismatic leader. Alongside him, however, a new generation is emerging, ready to make its mark: among the brightest talents is Muharemovic, who with Sassuolo has already attracted the attention of top Italian clubs and is confirming all his potential with the national team.

In the most recent starting lineup there’s also another familiar face to Italian football: Tahirovic, a former Roma prospect sold to Ajax in 2023 and now owned by Brondby.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA’S LATEST LINEUP

TYPICAL LINEUP (4-4-2): Vasilj; Dedic, Muharemovic, Katic, Malic; Memic, Sunjic, Tahirovic, Gigovic; Dzeko, Demirovic. Coach: Barbarez.

Wales finished Group J with only two defeats, both against group leaders Belgium. Bale is now just a memory, but the resounding 7-1 victory over North Macedonia – the same team that kept us out of the World Cup in 2022 – shows that the country still has great potential.

While there may be no headline stars, the team can count on the experience of several Premier League players. Among them stand out Brennan Johnson, a right winger born in 2001 and owned by Tottenham; Harry Wilson, a starting winger for Fulham; Neco Williams, an indispensable full-back for Nottingham Forest; and Ampadu, a midfielder/central defender (when needed) for Leeds who has played in Italy with Venezia and Spezia.

On the bench, meanwhile, sits Craig Bellamy, in his first experience as a head coach after serving as Kompany’s assistant at both Anderlecht and Burnley.