Italy delay Zenica arrival for 2026 World Cup play-off because of weather | OneFootball

Italy have delayed their arrival in Zenica for Tuesday’s 2026 World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina because of the weather. Kick-off is at 20:45.

L’Équipe reports that snow covered the Bilino-Polje pitch and rain was forecast, so Gennaro Gattuso moved the eve-of-game session to Coverciano, the federation’s technical centre. The squad’s departure was pushed from Sunday to Monday afternoon, with a flight scheduled around 16:30.

The atmosphere is expected to be intense in the small Zenica ground, 70 km north of Sarajevo, but the conditions remain cold. The 14,000-capacity stadium will admit just under 9,000 fans after a UEFA sanction for racist and discriminatory behaviour against Romania in November, a game that ended 3-1.

Chasing a first finals appearance since 2014 after two play-off failures, the Azzurri have tried to ease tension. Players were given Friday evening off.

A late-morning session should settle Gattuso’s remaining selection calls. Against Northern Ireland on Thursday, a 2-0 win, Mateo Retegui did not look at his sharpest, possibly short of rhythm after a season with Al-Qadisiya in Saudi Arabia. Pio Esposito’s lively cameo makes him a candidate to step in, with few other changes expected.

Federico Dimarco said they would need legs, mentality, clarity and patience, and that they are ready. Clément Turpin will referee, as he did for Italy 0-1 North Macedonia in March 2022.

Source: L'Équipe