Italy Faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in Crucial World Cup Play-off Final

Italy steps onto the field for their decisive 2026 World Cup play-off final against Bosnia and Herzegovina, maintaining a consistent starting lineup that includes Mateo Retegui, Moise Kean, and Sandro Tonali. They are set to challenge a Bosnian squad spearheaded by veteran strikers Edin Dzeko and Ermedin Demirovic.

The high-stakes encounter is scheduled to kick off at 19:45 UK time (18:45 GMT, 20:45 CEST) at the Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica. The winner will be determined over 90 minutes, with the possibility of extra time and a penalty shoot-out if the match remains tied. The victorious team will earn a coveted spot in World Cup Group B, joining Canada, Switzerland, and Qatar.

Italy's manager, Gennaro Gattuso, has opted to stick with the same successful lineup that secured a 2-0 semi-final victory over Northern Ireland, where both Tonali and Kean found the net. The Azzurri are expected to deploy a 3-5-2 formation, with Retegui and Kean leading the attack, Manuel Locatelli orchestrating the midfield, and Matteo Politano providing width on the right flank.

Bosnia and Herzegovina advanced to the final following a hard-fought semi-final clash against Wales. Edin Dzeko's late equalizer in Cardiff pushed the game into extra time, culminating in a successful penalty shoot-out for the Bosnian side. While 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic made a significant impact as a substitute in that match, he is not anticipated to start ahead of Esmir Bajraktarevic in this fixture.

The Bosnian attack will heavily rely on the experience of the 40-year-old Edin Dzeko, a former player for Roma, Inter, and Fiorentina, who will partner with Ermedin Demirovic upfront. Other familiar faces in the squad include Atalanta defender Sead Kolasinac, who has recovered from a minor injury, and Sassuolo's Tarik Muharemovic.

Historically, Bosnia and Herzegovina has a limited positive record against Italy, having secured only one victory in a friendly match back in November 1996. Their other encounters include a 1-1 draw and four defeats against the Italian side.

Official Line-ups

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Starting XI: Vasilj; Dedic, Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Bajraktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Memic; Demirovic, Dzeko
• Substitutes: Hadzikic, Zlomislic, Mujakic, Celik, Tahirovic, Gigovic, Bazdar, Hadziahmetovic, Burnic, Alajbegovic, Radeljic, Tabakovic

Italy

• Starting XI: Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui
• Substitutes: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Spinazzola, Buongiorno, Raspadori, Pisilli, Pio Esposito, Cristante, Frattesi, Gatti, Cambiaso

Referee: Turpin (FRA)