Italy, deprived of World Cups in 2018 and 2022, beat Northern Ireland 2-0 on Thursday in Bergamo in the semi-final of the play-offs and will seek one of the last four tickets promised to European nations for the 2026 World Cup (June 11-July 19) on Tuesday in Bosnia.
Kosovo and Turkey, Sweden and Poland, then the Czech Republic and Denmark will compete, also on Tuesday, for the three other tickets to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Bosnia – Italy
The Nazionale, which won thanks to Sandro Tonali (56th) and Moise Kean (80th), has not participated in a World Cup since 2014, an unprecedented shortage in the history of a four-time world champion selection (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006).
She will play her qualification for America in Bosnia, victorious over Wales on penalties (1-1; 4 tab to 2) on Thursday in Cardiff.
In regular time of this European play-off semi-final, the Welsh opened the scoring through Daniel James (51st) before the Bosnians equalized through their captain Edin Dzeko (86th).
Kosovo – Türkiye
At the end of a crazy match, Kosovo beat Slovakia 4-3 on Thursday evening in Bratislava to secure a play-off final against Turkey, who beat Romania (1-0) a little earlier.
Trailing 2-1 at half-time, the Kosovars turned the match around after returning from the locker room, thanks to a header from Fisnik Asllani (2-2, 47th), then a direct free kick from Florent Muslija (3-2, 60th), before Kreshnik Hajrizi put an end to the Slovak hopes with a powerful strike (4-2, 72nd). The reaction of David Strelec (4-3, 90+4th) did not change the outcome of the match.
Kosovo will play its first qualifier for a World Cup at home against Turkey, who will try to return to a competition that they have missed since the 2002 edition finished in 3rd place.
At the start of the evening, the Turks scared themselves but managed to maintain the advantage acquired thanks to a goal from full-back Ferdi Kadioglu (53rd), served perfectly by Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler.
Sweden – Poland
Sweden and Poland, winners respectively of Ukraine (3-1) and Albania (2-1) on Thursday, also offered themselves a play-off final which they will play on Tuesday in Stockholm.
In a match relocated to Valencia (Spain) due to the war in Ukraine, Sweden, carried by a hat-trick from its star striker Viktor Gyökeres, left the Ukrainians no chance.
The Gunners center forward started the match in the sixth minute, made the break shortly after the restart (51st), before killing any suspense with a penalty (73rd). Matvei Ponomarenko saved the honor at the very end of the match, but the cause was heard (90th).
In the other semi-final of path B, Poland, got off to a bad start at home in Warsaw on a goal from Arber Hoxha for Albania shortly before half-time (42nd), turned everything around after returning from the locker room: first thanks to a goal from its captain Robert Lewandowski (1-1, 63rd), then by Piotr Zielinski who put an end to the Albanian illusions (2-1, 73rd).
Czech Republic – Denmark
The last ticket in the Europe zone will be contested in the Czech Republic, victorious over Ireland on penalties (2-2; 4 tab to 3), which will host Denmark, an easy 4-0 winner over North Macedonia.
