World Cup Playoffs: Italy, Denmark, Czech-Ireland Draw, Wales Win

Di European playoffs for 2026 World Cup don start with plenty drama as teams dey fight for di four remaining spots wey Europe get. Di matches wey play on Thursday, March 26, 2026, show say di road to di World Cup no easy at all.

For Bergamo, Italy finally win one playoff match after dem miss di last two World Cups. Sandro Tonali break di deadlock for Italy with one fine half-volley for di second half, and den he set up Moise Kean for di second goal. Di 2-0 win over Northern Ireland mean say Italy go now face di winner of Wales versus Bosnia and Herzegovina for di final playoff match on March 31. Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso talk say di match na di most important one for him, even more than di 2006 World Cup final wey he play as player.

For Copenhagen, Denmark show power as dem beat North Macedonia 4-0. Gustav Isaksen score two quick goals for two minutes, while Mikkel Damsgaard and Christian Norgaard add di oda ones. Denmark now go face di winner of Czech Republic versus Republic of Ireland for di final match on Tuesday.

For Prague, di match between Czech Republic and Republic of Ireland end 2-2 after extra time, and e go go to penalty shootout. Troy Parrott give Ireland di lead from penalty for di 19th minute, and den one own goal by Czech defender make am 2-0 for Ireland. But Czech Republic come back with goals from Patrik Schick (penalty) and captain Tomas Krejci. Di match dey go to penalties after 120 minutes of play.

For Cardiff, Wales beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 to set up one final match against Italy. Di only goal come from one early strike, and Wales manage to hold di lead to di end.

For di oda playoff matches, Turkey don already qualify for di final after beating Romania 1-0, while Ukraine beat Sweden 3-0, Poland beat Albania 2-1, and Kosovo beat Slovakia 4-2. All dese teams go play dia final matches on March 31 to decide who go qualify for di World Cup.

Di 2026 World Cup go co-host by United States, Canada, and Mexico, and e go feature 48 teams. Europe get 16 spots total, and 12 don already qualify through regular qualifying. Di four remaining spots go come from dese playoffs. Di teams wey qualify go join Group A with co-hosts Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea for di tournament proper.

For di intercontinental playoffs wey dey hold for Mexico, teams like Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica, New Caledonia, Bolivia, and Suriname dey compete for two more World Cup spots. Iraq coach Graham Arnold talk say dia preparations don affect by di war for Middle East, but di team manage to travel to Mexico for dia matches.