Alex MacQuoid
Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy will take place at Stadio di Bergamo on 26 March.
Michael O’Neill’s side’s third-place finish in Group A of qualifying meant their place in the play-offs came through their Nations League performance as a pot four team, ensuring they would travel to a pot one team in the semi-final.
Italy finished second in Group I and enter the play-offs as the highest-ranked team, so will enjoy home advantage against Northern Ireland with the game to take place at the home of Atalanta.
Italy’s last game at Stadio di Bergamo came in a World Cup qualifier against Estonia which they won 5-0. Their most recent qualifier, a 4-1 defeat by Norway, taking place at Milan’s San Siro.
The Bergamo stadium has a capacity of just 21,300, meaning Northern Ireland fans will likely receive just over 1,000 tickets for the game as per Uefa rules.
The winner of the play-off will face a trip to either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina on 31 March with the winner earning a place in next summer’s World Cup in North America.
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