O’Neill Sees Opportunity Amid Pressure in World Cup Play-offs

Michael O’Neill recognizes that the pressure is squarely on Italy as Northern Ireland prepares for their play-off semi-final on March 26, 2026.

As Northern Ireland stands just two matches away from a potential spot in the 2026 World Cup, O’Neill has urged his players not to “waste this opportunity.” The journey to North America, however, is far from simple as they gear up to face Italy in the semi-final.

If Northern Ireland manages to defeat the Azzurri, they will proceed to a decisive final against either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina five days later. Italy, having not qualified for a World Cup since 2014 in Brazil, presents a formidable opponent, while Northern Ireland has not participated in the tournament since 1986.

Despite a youthful squad, O’Neill is confident in their ability to meet the challenges ahead. He acknowledges their previous away defeats against Germany and Slovakia but believes that their performances in those matches indicate their potential to surprise. “Winning away in international football is challenging, and this is an area our team still needs to develop. However, I found encouragement in our performances against Germany and Slovakia, where we were competitive despite missing key players,” he remarked.

Northern Ireland must strive to make the match as challenging as possible for Italy, who will face significant expectations from their fans. O’Neill stated, “If we can leverage our gameplay and performance levels, who knows what could happen? We have an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup, and we must seize it. My message to the team is clear: ‘don’t waste the opportunity.'”

While Northern Ireland finished third in their qualification group behind Germany and Slovakia, their performance in the Nations League secured them a spot in the play-offs. Italy, on the other hand, has faced struggles recently, finishing second in their group behind Norway and suffering notable defeats.

“While we might have preferred a different opponent from Pot One, to reach the World Cup, we must overcome two strong teams,” O’Neill added. He views the match against Italy as a significant opportunity and notes the corresponding pressure on the Italian side.

Italy’s recent failures to qualify for the last two World Cups create a narrative that might favor Northern Ireland. However, O’Neill stresses the importance of focusing on their own performance rather than the past of their opponents. “The current Italian team is not the same as it was eight years ago. Not all their players bear the weight of previous playoff failures, although there remains a collective expectation from their fans for success,” he concluded.