Result Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 – 1 Italy, Tuesday 31 March 2026, FIFA World Cup 2026 European play-off final

65% Ball Possession BOSNIA and 35% Ball Possession ITALY
   Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 – 1 Italy  
80′ Haris Tabakovic                                                15′ Moise Kean 
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A heartbreaking day for Italian football! Italy faced defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. This loss means Italy is eliminated from the World Cup for the third time in a row. Bosnia triumphed in the penalty shootout after crucial misses from Pio Esposito and Cristante. It was a grueling match, with Italy playing for half the game with only ten players due to Bastoni’s red card in the 41st minute. This is a nightmare for Italy; it will be another summer without the World Cup. It’s hard to accept, but that’s the harsh truth.

❌   2018 World Cup
❌   2022 World Cup
❌   2026 World Cup

👉🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 – 1 Italy 🇮🇹

⚽️ Italy takes the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from Moise Kean for @Azzurri_En, who scored with a right-footed shot into the top right corner. The assist came from Nicolò Barella. This opportunity arose from a defensive mistake by Bosnia, where a backpass to the goalkeeper went directly to Barella, allowing him to set up Kean for the decisive shot.

👉🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 – 1 Italy 🇮🇹

🟥 Red Card. Oh dear, this is unfortunate. The Azzurri are now down to 10 players after Alessandro Bastoni received a red card in the 41st minute.

👉🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 – 1 Italy 🇮🇹

⚽️ Italy is in turmoil! In the 80th minute, Haris Tabakovic scores to equalize for Bosnia and Herzegovina with a close-range left-footed shot to the center. A wild scramble occurs in the Azzurri’s penalty area after Dedic’s cross; the ball sits right in front of the goal defended by Donnarumma, who somehow pulls off an incredible save against Dzeko’s header. However, Tabakovic is there to tap it in, bringing the match level. The Azzurri find themselves back at square one. The Italian players argue, suggesting a possible push, but the goal stands. Donnarumma receives a yellow card for dissent.

#ItalianSoccerSerieA #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro #BIHITA #WorldCup

🇧🇦    Bosnia and Herzegovina comes into this match following a stunning upset, having knocked out Wales in a thrilling penalty shootout.

🇮🇹   Italy made it to this point by beating Northern Ireland 2-0 in the last playoff round held in Bergamo. The Azzurri face significant pressure as they have missed the last two World Cups via this same playoff path.

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Statistics BEFORE the game Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy

Italy has gone unbeaten in five of their last six encounters with Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 wins, 1 draw). Their sole defeat against this opponent occurred on November 6, 1996, during a friendly match (2-1)—marking the very first clash between the two teams.

Italy has achieved an impressive record of winning six out of the seven matches under Gennaro Gattuso’s management (with one loss). This is a remarkable feat, as no manager in the history of the National Team has secured more wins in their first eight matches with the team.

After suffering a loss in their inaugural match on Bosnian soil (2-1 in a friendly), Italy has triumphed in their next two away games against Bosnia, one of which was held in Zenica (a 3-0 victory on November 15, 2019, with goals from Acerbi, Insigne, and Andrea Belotti).

Italy has secured victories in their last three away matches during World Cup qualifiers—following a stretch of three winless away games (2 draws, 1 loss). This marks the longest winning streak Italy has ever recorded on the road during this stage of the competition.

Italy has the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup through a playoff round for only the second time in its history, having previously done so against Russia (drawing 1-1 away and winning 1-0 at home between October and November 1997); in contrast, the Azzurri faced elimination in their two most recent playoff campaigns: against Sweden in November 2017 (0-1 in Stockholm, 0-0 in Milan) and against North Macedonia in March 2022 (0-1 in Palermo).

Bosnia and Herzegovina, which made its only World Cup appearance in the 2014 edition, has lost just one of its last 10 competitive matches (5 wins, 4 draws), a significant improvement compared to their previous run, where they suffered defeats in eight of their last nine fixtures (with 1 draw).

Bosnia and Herzegovina official starting lineup against Italy

Italy official starting lineup against Bosnia and Herzegovina

 

Credit via x.com/Azzurri

World Cup Playoffs Finals
🇧🇦  Bonia and Herzegovina 1 – 1 Italy  🇮🇹
Tuesday 31 March 2026
Bilino Polje Stadium
Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina

20:45

Referee: Clément Turpin FRA
Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos FRA
Assistant Referee 2: Benjamin Pagès FRA
Fourth Official: José María Sánchez Martínez ESP
Video Assistant Referee: Jérôme Brisard FRA
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Willy Delajod FRA
FIFA Referee Assessor: Martin Ingvarsson SWE
FIFA Match Commissioner: Jirí Novák CZE

⚽️ Goals:  15′ Moise Kean (I), 80′ Haris Tabakovic (B)

🇧🇦      ✅✅✅
🇮🇹     ❌✅❌

🟨 Yellow Cards:  54′ Benjamin Tahirovic (B), 81′ Gianluigi Donnarumma (I), 102′ Tarik Muharemovic (B), 121′ Davide Frattesi (I)

✅    Official lineups – Tabellino:

🇧🇦    Lineup Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-4-2: Vasilj; Dedic, Katic, Muharemovic, Kolasinac; Bajraktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Memic; Demirovic, Dzeko.

Subs: Hadzikic, Ziomislic – Radeljic, Celik, Mujakic – Gigovic, Burnic, Tahirovic, Hadziahmetovic, Alajbegovic – Bazdar, Tabakovic.

Head Coach: Sergej Barbarez.

🇮🇹 Lineup ITALY 3-5-2: G.Donnarumma; G.Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Moise Kean, Retegui.

Subs: Carnesecchi, Meret – Buongiorno, Gatti – Palestra, Spinazzola, Pisilli, Cristante, Frattesi, Cambiaso – Raspadori, Pio Esposito.

Head Coach: Gennaro Gattuso

Click the video to watch Bosnia and Herzegovina – Italy highlights on Tuesday, 31 March 2026

Dimarco: “I Never Disrespected Bosnia” | Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy | 2026 World Cup Playoffs

The match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 20:45, at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The stakes are incredibly high. A chance to qualify for the World Cup is at risk, and both teams are under immense pressure. Bosnia continues to hold onto its dreams, while Italy aims to steer clear of another haunting nightmare from its recent past.

Federico Dimarco stated during a press conference in Coverciano on Saturday, 28 March 2026:

“If we have the right mindset, we will bring home the result.” In Zenica, he will reunite with Dzeko, his former teammate at Inter: “A magnificent player and a magnificent person; I have maintained a great relationship with him.”

“The celebration gesture? I didn’t disrespect Bosnia, and I’m not arrogant. The footage was misleading. I called Dzeko immediately after the match.”

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Game:  Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy, FIFA World Cup 2026 European play-off final
When: Tuesday 31 March
Time: 20:45 CET kick-off)
Where: Stadion Bilino Polje, Zenica

World Cup Playoffs
🇮🇹  Italy vs Bonia and Herzegovina
Tuesday 31 March 2026
Bilino Polje Stadium
Bergamo, Italy

20:45

Referee:

Sandro Tonali SHINES as Italy wins World Cup Qualifying Semi-final

Post: Result Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland, Thursday, 26 March 2026, World Cup Playoffs

Sandro Tonali: “We have to win the second game to play in the World Cup.”

Post: Result Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland, Thursday, 26 March 2026, World Cup Playoffs

🗣️ “We keep going, we keep pushing because we have to win the second game to play in the World Cup.”

Sandro Tonali speaks to @adriandelmonte after Italy’s 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland.#WCQ #Italy 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/1TYIPb0wQA

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) March 26, 2026

Result Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland, Thursday, 26 March 2026, World Cup Playoffs

63% Ball Possession ITALY and 37% Ball Possession N. IRELAND

      Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland   
56′ Sandro Tonali
80′ Moise Kean

👉 🇮🇹 Italy has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. On Thursday, March 26, Italy triumphed in the Playoff match held at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium. They secured a 2–0 victory over Northern Ireland, with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.

In simple terms, it was crucial to achieve this as best as possible. Italy faced challenges but ultimately celebrated a win. They managed to set aside all worries and fears, even after a lackluster first half. It wasn’t until the second half that Italy discovered their scoring path. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma hardly had to intervene, acting almost as a spectator. The final hurdle for qualification is set for Tuesday.

With a remarkable head-to-head record, Italy has not lost to Northern Ireland since 1958.  Italy has achieved seven consecutive clean sheets against them.

👉 🇮🇹 Italy 1 – 0 Northern Ireland

⚽️ Italy gains the upper hand in the 56th minute. Sandro Tonali scores with a right-footed shot that beats Northern Ireland’s goalkeeper, Pierce Charles, in the bottom right corner.

👉 🇮🇹  Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland

⚽️ Italy extends their lead in the 80th minute! Moise Kean scores with a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. Sandro Tonali provides the assist. What a fantastic play by Italy! Pio Esposito passes to Tonali; the ball then goes to Kean, who skillfully controls it, turns, and blasts it into the net with his left foot. GOOAAALLLLL

5 – Prior to Moise #Kean, the last player to score in 5 matches in a row for Italy was Salvatore Schillaci between June and July 1990. Predator.#ITANIR pic.twitter.com/hXnaGRgYIT

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 26, 2026

#ItalianSoccerSerieA #ITANIR #WorldCup #Tonali

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Statistics: Italy has a flawless record against Northern Ireland, with five victories and two draws, and they have not conceded a single goal in their last seven encounters.

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Here are some details about Northern Ireland, Italy’s opponent.

Currently ranked 69th in the FIFA Rankings, Northern Ireland secured their spot by finishing first in Nations League Group C. They placed third in Qualifying Group A, behind Germany and Slovakia, with a record of three wins and three losses. The two teams have met eleven times, with Italy winning seven matches, drawing three, and suffering one unfortunate defeat—a 2-1 loss on January 15, 1958, in Belfast, which cost the Azzurri a World Cup qualification. Their most recent encounter, also in Belfast, ended in a 0-0 draw during the final qualifier for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which led Italy to the play-offs.

The New Balance Arena is ready for Italy vs Northern Ireland

Credit via x.com/Atalanta_BC

🎶🎶 Fratelli d’Italia,
l’Italia s’è desta,
dell’elmo di Scipio
s’è cinta la testa.
Dov’è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò. 🎶🎶

Italy’s national anthem ahead of its FIFA World Cup Qualifying playoff matchup against Northern Ireland 🎵🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/7XL9N4OZTU

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 26, 2026

Italy official starting lineup against Northern Ireland

Credit via x.com/Azzurri_En

Photo via x.com/Azzurri

World Cup Playoffs
🇮🇹  Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland
Thursday, 26 March 2026
New Balance Arena
Bergamo, Italy

20:45

Referee: Danny Makkelie
Assistants: Hessel Steegstra and Jan De Vries
Fourth official: Jesus Gil Manzano.
VAR: Pol van Boekel
AVAR: Jeroen Manschot

⚽️   Goals: 56′ Sandro Tonali, 80′ Moise Kean

🟨   Yellow Cards: 58′ Alessandro Bastoni (I)

✅   Official lineups – Tabellino:

🇮🇹   Lineup ITALIA (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui.

Subs: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Gatti, Scalvini, Pisilli, Cristante, Frattesi, Raspadori, Esposito

Head Coach:  Gennaro Gattuso

Lineup IRLANDA DEL NORD (3-5-1-1): Charles, Hume, McNair, McConville; Devlin, Charles, Galbraith, Devenny, Spencer; Price; Donley.

Head Coach: Michael O’Neill

Click the video to watch Italy – Northern Ireland highlights on Thursday, 26 March 2026

Italy 28 players called up for the Northern Ireland, World Cup Playoffs

By Anna Italia
Follow me on X  @ItalianSerieA,
Facebook: Anna Italia Page
Instagram: annaitalia2
Italian Soccer Serie A

🇮🇹👉    Italy’s Head Coach Gennaro Gattuso has summoned 28 players for the World Cup playoffs against Northern Ireland. The squad will gather on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio Technical Centre in Coverciano. They are set to compete against Northern Ireland in the playoff semifinal on Thursday, March 26, at 20:45 CET at the Stadio di Bergamo.

The stakes are high for the Azzurri; a victory over Northern Ireland would lead Italy to face the winner of the Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina match for a World Cup spot on Tuesday, March 31, away from home. The two teams that lose in the semifinal of Play-Off Path A (Italy vs. Northern Ireland / Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina) will instead play a friendly on March 31, which the Azzurri would also play away, either in Cardiff or Zenica.

Among the newly called-up players is Marco Palestra, a fresh addition to the squad. Palestra, a defender from Cagliari born in 2005, will make his debut with the senior national team. This call-up also marks the first for Giorgio Scalvini and Niccolò Pisilli under Gattuso, as they have been away since March and November 2024, respectively. Federico Chiesa, the 2021 European champion who has not played for the national team since EURO 2024, will return to don the Azzurri jersey.

  🇮🇹    ITALY SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli);

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli);

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);

Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta).

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Here are some facts about Northern Ireland, Italy’s rival.

Northern Ireland, currently ranked 69th in the FIFA Rankings, secured their position by finishing first in Nations League Group C. They ended up third in Qualifying Group A, trailing behind Germany and Slovakia, with a record of three wins and three losses. The two teams have faced each other eleven times, with Italy achieving seven wins, three draws, and one unfortunate defeat—a 2-1 loss on January 15, 1958, in Belfast, which prevented the Azzurri from qualifying for the World Cup. Their latest match, also held in Belfast, concluded in a 0-0 draw during the final qualifier for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which led Italy to the play-offs.

ITALY NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS IN BERGAMO.

Italy has maintained an unbeaten streak in Bergamo, where they will once again play in front of 23,000 fans, six months after their impressive 5-0 win against Estonia during Gennaro Gattuso’s debut as the National Team coach. The team has played four matches in this city, achieving two 5-0 victories (the other one was against Malta in January 1987) and drawing 1-1 on two occasions (once in a friendly against Turkey in November 2006 and again in the Nations League match against the Netherlands in October 2020).

Italy Away Kit