The highly anticipated FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff semifinal between Italy and Northern Ireland is set to take place on Thursday, March 26, at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo, Italy. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. Central European Time (CET), which corresponds to 7:45 p.m. GMT in the United Kingdom and Ireland, 3:45 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) and 12:45 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) in the United States and Canada, and 6:45 a.m. Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on Friday morning. This match carries significant weight as the winner will advance to the decisive playoff final, an away match against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina, to secure a place at the 2024 FIFA World Cup.
Italy, a traditional powerhouse in international soccer, is eager to end its 12-year absence from the sport's most prestigious tournament. The Azzurri's road to this playoff stage has been challenging. After a disappointing start to their World Cup qualification campaign, the team found new momentum under the leadership of Gennaro Gattuso, who took over as head coach and guided Italy to six consecutive victories. However, a crushing 4-1 defeat to Norway at the San Siro in November dashed Italy's hopes of direct qualification and forced them into the playoff round. In an attempt to foster a more intimidating atmosphere for their opponents, Gattuso requested that the match be played at the smaller Bergamo stadium rather than the larger venues typically used by Italy.
Opposing Italy is a Northern Ireland team that has not qualified for a World Cup since 1986, marking an even longer drought than that of Italy. Coached by Michael O'Neill, Northern Ireland faces a formidable challenge, as the team has not defeated Italy since the 1958 World Cup. Adding to their difficulties, Northern Ireland will be without one of their key defenders, Daniel Ballard, who has been sidelined due to injury. Ballard has been having an excellent season with Sunderland and his absence is expected to impact Northern Ireland's defensive strength in this critical fixture.
On the Italian side, one player to watch is 20-year-old Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito, who has been impressive in recent World Cup qualifiers, scoring three goals in his last four appearances. His form could be crucial in helping Italy break through Northern Ireland's defenses and secure a victory.
For fans wanting to watch the game live, there are multiple viewing options depending on location. In the United States, the match is available on the sports-first streaming platform Fubo for a pay-per-view fee of $20. This option does not require a regular subscription to Fubo, allowing viewers to purchase access solely for this game. Additionally, the Spanish-language streaming service Vix offers the match live, but viewers must subscribe to the Vix Plus service, which starts at $5 per month for a tier with ads and goes up to $7 per month for an ad-free experience.
For viewers traveling abroad or concerned about online privacy and streaming restrictions, the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) may be beneficial. VPNs encrypt internet traffic, improving security and preventing internet service providers from throttling streaming speeds. They also provide protection when using public Wi-Fi networks. While VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, some streaming platforms may restrict their use to access region-specific content. It is important to review the streaming service's terms of use before employing a VPN. ExpressVPN is currently recommended for its reliability and device compatibility, with prices starting at $3.49 per month on a two-year plan and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
In the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, fans are in luck as the match will be broadcast live on the free-to-air channel BBC3. This means viewers can also watch the game online for free through the BBC's streaming service, BBC iPlayer. The iPlayer app is available on Android and Apple devices, as well as many smart TVs and streaming devices. To use this service legally, viewers must have a valid UK TV license.
Football fans in Australia can watch the match via Stan Sport, a streaming service that requires a subscription costing AU$20 per month in addition to a standard Stan subscription starting at AU$12 per month. Stan Sport offers a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alongside the World Cup qualifiers, the service also provides access to other major sporting events, including Premier League, Champions League, Europa League soccer matches, international rugby, and Formula E racing.
In Canada, the game will be available on DAZN Canada. A subscription to DAZN costs CA$30 per month or CA$200 annually and includes coverage of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby, and WTA tennis. DAZN supports a wide range of devices, including iOS and Android mobile apps, smart TVs, and streaming boxes.
This playoff semifinal between Italy and Northern Ireland represents a high-stakes encounter for both teams. Italy is determined to reclaim its place on the world stage after missing the last two World Cups, while Northern Ireland aims to end a nearly four-decade absence from the tournament. The match promises a tense and competitive battle, with significant implications for the teams and their supporters. Fans around the world can tune in through various platforms, ensuring that the drama of this crucial World Cup qualifying fixture is accessible to a global audience.