UEFA World Cup Playoff Semi-Finals Didn’t Dissapoint

After weeks of troubling headlines around the 2026 World Cup, Thursday delivered a badly needed infusion of excitement.

FIFA got just that on Thursday as the world watched eight UEFA World Cup Playoff semi-final matches. The winners from the round will now face off on Tuesday with a spot in this summer’s World Cup on the line.

Below, we’ll share some of the biggest takeaways from the semi-finals and set the stage for some fantastic soccer next week.

Italy Steps Closer to Ending World Cup Drought

After establishing itself as one of the world’s greatest soccer powers, Italy has failed to qualify for the last two World Cups. That means it's been almost 12 years since we last saw the country play in the tournament, adding extra pressure on the team as it enters the UEFA World Cup Playoffs.

Fortunately for Italy and its fans, a pair of second-half goals helped give the Azzuri a 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland. While the win was expected, Italy’s recent history gave fans plenty of reason to be nervous.

The team will now face Bosnia on Tuesday, with the winner securing a World Cup spot. Betting sites have Italy as a heavy favorite against the #66 team in FIFA’s World Rankings. 

Ireland Falls Short

The Republic of Ireland entered its matchup against Czechia on Thursday believing it could pull off an upset. For the first 85 minutes, they appeared to be right, leading 2-1. The only goal the Irish surrendered was on a penalty kick in the first half, making the match feel one-sided.

That changed when Czechia’s Ladislav Krejcí tied the match in the 86th minute. The match would finally be decided by penalty kicks, with Ireland losing.

Leading for 85 minutes makes the loss hit so much harder for the team and their fans, who will now have to wait four more years for a shot at the World Cup. 

Kosovo Pulls Off Stunning Upset of Slovakia

The biggest upset of the UEFA World Cup Playoff semi-finals came when 78th-ranked Kosovo defeated 47th-ranked Slovakia. The final score was 4-3, but Slovakia’s final goal came at the 94-minute mark, making it seem closer than it was.

Slovakia captured the momentum early with a goal after just six minutes and led the match 2-1 at halftime. However, Kosovo came out ready to battle in the second, scoring three goals in under 20 minutes.

Kosovo will now face a very good Turkey team, but will have the advantage of playing at home.