Bergamo, Italy – The dream of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains alive for Italy, Denmark, and Turkey after a compelling round of playoff matches on Thursday. Italy, aiming to avoid a third consecutive World Cup absence, secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland, while Denmark showcased their attacking prowess with a dominant 4-0 win against North Macedonia. Turkey, fueled by the brilliance of Arda Güler, edged past Romania 1-0, setting up a potentially exciting final round of qualifying.
For Italy, the pressure was palpable. Having failed to qualify for the previous two World Cups, the Azzurri knew a slip-up against Northern Ireland could be devastating. Gennaro Gattuso’s side initially struggled to break down a disciplined Northern Ireland defense, managing only two scoring chances in the first half. However, the second half saw a marked increase in intensity, culminating in Sandro Tonali’s opening goal in the 56th minute. The goal, a somewhat fortunate deflection after a failed clearance, ignited the home crowd and shifted the momentum firmly in Italy’s favor. Moise Kean then sealed the victory with a well-placed left-footed shot in the 80th minute, assisted by Tonali, effectively putting the game beyond Northern Ireland’s reach.
Italy will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff final, with a spot at the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico on the line. Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced after a penalty shootout victory over Wales, winning 4-2 despite a missed penalty from Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirovic. Edin Dzeko, playing for Schalke, equalized for Bosnia late in the match (86th minute) after Wales had taken the lead in the 51st minute.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s path to qualification wasn’t without its challenges. They faced a stubborn Romanian side that proved difficult to penetrate in the first half. The breakthrough finally came in the 53rd minute, thanks to a moment of magic from Real Madrid’s Arda Güler. Güler, demonstrating the vision and technique that have earned him comparisons to Lionel Messi, delivered a stunning pass from the right flank that found Ferdi Kadioglu, who calmly finished to give Turkey the lead. Turkey will now face Kosovo in the final, after Kosovo overcame a twice-taken lead to defeat Slovakia 4-3.
Dänemark’s victory over North Macedonia was a display of attacking football. Initially lacking a cutting edge, the Danish side exploded after halftime, scoring four unanswered goals. Mikkel Damsgaard opened the scoring in the 49th minute, followed by a quick-fire double from Gustav Isaksen in the 58th and 59th minutes. Christian Nørgaard completed the rout with a header from a corner in the 75th minute. Denmark will now face the Czech Republic in the playoff final.
The Czech Republic also secured their place in the final after a dramatic penalty shootout win against Ireland, winning 4-3 after the match ended in a draw. Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick and his teammates had to overcome a 2-0 deficit within the first 23 minutes before battling back to force extra time.
Elsewhere, Sweden defeated Ukraine 3-1 in Valencia, and Poland secured a 2-1 victory over Albania, with goals from Robert Lewandowski and Piotr Zielinski. These results set up compelling final matchups as nations continue to fight for a coveted spot in the expanded 48-team World Cup.
The stakes are incredibly high as these teams navigate the final hurdle in their quest for World Cup qualification. For Italy, a nation steeped in footballing history, the pressure to return to the world stage is immense. Denmark, riding the momentum of their dominant performance, will look to carry that form into their final match. And Turkey, with the creative spark of Arda Güler, will be hoping to complete their fairytale run to the tournament.
The next set of matches, scheduled for next week, will determine which of these nations will celebrate a place at the 2026 World Cup, and which will face another four years of waiting. Keep an eye on Archysport for continued coverage of the World Cup playoffs and all the latest developments from the world of football.
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