The playoff final that could bring Italy back to the World Cup after a devastating absence is taking place in Zenica. For Gattuso and his men, it's the night of truth.
There are matches that transcend the sporting result. They weigh on the shoulders of an entire nation, entering the homes, conversations, and hearts of those who feel football is their mother tongue. Tonight, Tuesday, March 31, at 20:45 PM, at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica, Gennaro Gattuso's Italy faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs. A one-off, no-deal match. The winner flies to North America, the loser stays home.
Twelve Years of Ghosts
The Azzurri have missed a World Cup since June 2014, when Prandelli's team was eliminated in the group stage, losing the decisive match against Uruguay. Since then, it's been nothing but pain. Italy was eliminated in the two most recent playoffs: against Sweden in November 2017 and against North Macedonia in March 2022. Two defeats that left deep scars in the hearts of fans and insiders. Two editions of the most important tournament in the world watched on television, as spectators, without the Azzurri on the pitch.
For a country that has won four World Cups, that has written indelible pages in the history of world football, it has been a long and painful exile. Not participating in the World Cup is not just a sporting failure: it is an absence felt in the sense of national identity, in the silence of those who hoped but found no answer.
Gattuso and his boys believe in it
Coach Gennaro Gattuso said: “Football players live for nights like these, when there's that tingling sensation, the tension that starts to rise. We missed two World Cups, but we can't obsess over this and lose focus, because we'll need it. I have to instill confidence in the players. We have the quality to achieve our goal.”
In the semifinals, Italy already demonstrated their ability to handle pressure: the Azzurri beat Northern Ireland 2-0 with goals from Tonali in the 56th minute and Kean in the 80th. Of the eight European teams competing for the playoffs, Italy has scored the most goals. Tonight's lineup includes Donnarumma, Bastoni, Barella, and Retegui: talent and character are not lacking.
A place up for grabs, a dream to chase
If Italy qualifies, they would end up in Group B of the World Cup alongside Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland. A feasible group, it could finally allow the Azzurri to return to a leading role on the world stage.
Tonight, at 20:45 PM, millions of Italians will pause in front of their screens. And not just for football. To rediscover something that's been missing for far too long: the joy of cheering on the Azzurri at a World Cup, that feeling that every four years should be a regular occurrence, not a dream to be chased. Forza Italia. This time, no more ghosts.
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