World Cup 2026 playoffs: Italy's opponents already revealed | OneFootball

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World Cup 2026 playoffs: Italy's opponents already revealed | OneFootball

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·17 November 2025

World Cup 2026 playoffs: Italy's opponents already revealed

Article image:World Cup 2026 playoffs: Italy's opponents already revealed
Article image:World Cup 2026 playoffs: Italy's opponents already revealed

Italie

For the upcoming March 2026 playoffs, Italy already knows what kind of opponents to expect.

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On Sunday night, Gennaro Gattuso’s men suffered a 4-1 defeat against Norway in a crucial match for 2026 World Cup qualification. Finishing second in their group, the Azzurri will have to go through the playoffs at the end of March 2026.

There’s already a clearer picture of Italy’s potential opponents, as they’ll be seeded in Pot 1 thanks to their 9th place in the FIFA rankings. The Italian side is therefore expected to face a Pot 4 team in the semi-finals. Italy could host Romania, Sweden, Northern Ireland, or the loser of the Wales vs North Macedonia clash from Group J. For the final, the Italians are likely to avoid Turkey.

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