FIFA World Cup Qualifiers- Who Will Italy Face Next After Beating Northern Ireland?

Photo by Mattia Ozbot - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers- Who Will Italy Face Next After Beating Northern Ireland?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Mar 26, 2026 5:40 PM ET

Italy has defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 in the semifinal of Path 1 of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers and is a win away from qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

Sandro Tonali scored the opener for the Italians in the 56th minute througha s triker from outside the box. In the 80th minute, Moise Kean scored Italy's second goal of the night, which gave them an important win.

Italy needs to win their next game, which is the Path 1 Final, to qualify directly to the 2026 World Cup. If Italy wins the match next week, they will be in Group B of the 2026 World Cup with Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.

Italy will be playing against the winner of the Wales vs Bosnia & Herzegovina match. Wales took the lead in the 51st minute through a goal from Daniel James.

Late in the match, in the 86th minute, Edin Dzeko scored the equalizer for Bosnia & Herzegovina from a corner kick and headed the ball past Karl Darlow. The match is currently 1-1.

Wales' midfielder #20 Daniel James celebrates scoring the team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup qualification semi-final football match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina, at Cardiff City Stadium, in Cardiff, on March 26, 2026. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)Photo by Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images

The match will go to extra time, and a penalty shootout will happen if the game remains tied.

Wales 1-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina (2-4 penalties)

Bosnia & Herzegovina started the penalty shoot-out, and Ermedin Demirovic had his penalty saved by Darlow.

Wales' first penalty taker was Harry Wilson, and he scored the first goal of the penalty shootout. Haris Tabakovic scored the seocnd penalty kick for Bosnia.

Wales go two for two as Mark Harris scored the seocnd penalty kick for Wales. Bosnia responded with another penalty kick; Ivan Basic scored the goal.

Brennan Johnson stepped up and skied his shot over the bar. Bosnia scored their fourth penalty kick through a goal from Amir Hadziahmetovic.

Neco Williams stepped up for Wales' fourth penalty kick, and his shot was saved by Nikola Vasilj.

Bosnia will play Italy at home next week after Kerim Alajbegovic scored the winning penalty kick in the penalty shootout. The winner of Bosnia vs Italy will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Edin Dzeko of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-1 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-off match between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: