Italy will first host Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifying playoff in March but then would go on the road to reach their first tournament after back-to-back failures at this stage.
Italy will first host Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifying playoff in March but then would need to go on the road to qualify for their first tournament after back-to-back failures at this stage.
On Thursday, FIFA held the playoffs draw that will send the winner between four-time champion Italy and the Northern Irish on March 26 to travel to face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina five days later. At stake was a place at the first 48-team finals tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Italy have not played at a World Cup since 2014 and were pushed into the playoffs after finishing runners-up in a qualifying group won by Norway this month.
In other European playoff brackets, Ukraine will host Sweden with the winner then at home to Poland or Albania.
Kosovo’s path to a first-ever World Cup as Europe’s newest football nation is away to Slovakia followed by hosting Turkey or Romania.
