"Northern Ireland have recorded just one victory over Italy in the 11 previous meetings between the two nations. Michael O'Neill's side face a trip to Italy in March for the semi-finals of the European play-offs for a place in the 2026 World Cup. A win for Northern Ireland in that match would set up a final meeting away to the winner of the other Path A semi-final between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the winner of that final qualifying for the World Cup."
"The first meeting between Northern Ireland and Italy was in April 1957, a qualifying match for the 1958 World Cup which Italy won 1-0. Following a friendly between the two in December of that year which ended in a 2-2 draw, Northern Ireland won the home World Cup qualifier between the two a month later. The next four ties between the two were friendlies, with Italy winning all four in 1961, 1997, 2003 and 2009,"
"World Cup qualification matches between the two is nothing new. For the 2022 World Cup, the two nations were in the same qualifying group. In March 2021, Italy were 2-0 winners in Parma. That was the most recent fixture between the two that was held in Italy. Eight months later, the two sides faced each other once more inside Windsor Park."
Northern Ireland have won only once in 11 meetings with Italy and will travel to Italy on 26 March for a European play-off semi-final to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. A victory would send Northern Ireland to a final away to either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the final five days after the semi. The sides first met in April 1957 in a 1958 World Cup qualifier, and they have since met in friendlies and qualifiers across decades. All seven matches played in Italy have been won by Italy, while Italy has never beaten Northern Ireland on Northern Ireland's home soil.
Read at www.bbc.com
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