​Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.​

World Cup Qualifiers saw Italy move within one win of ending their 12 year absence from the tournament with a 2 to 0 victory over Northern Ireland on Thursday, while Turkey and Kosovo advanced to a playoff that will determine who joins the Socceroos in Group D. The results, played across European venues including Bratislava and Istanbul, shape the final qualification spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and directly impact Australia’s group stage opponents.

Italy Close In on World Cup Return

Italy produced a composed second half performance to defeat Northern Ireland, with Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean scoring the decisive goals. After a tight opening period, Tonali broke the deadlock in the 56th minute with a controlled strike from the edge of the area following a partial clearance.

From the press box, the shift in momentum was clear as Italy began to control possession and push Northern Ireland deeper into defence. The pressure told again in the 80th minute when Kean collected a pass from Tonali, moved past his marker and finished low into the net to seal the result.

Italy, managed by Gennaro Gattuso, will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place at the FIFA World Cup. According to official match records, this is Italy’s closest approach to qualification since missing the previous two tournaments.

Kosovo Edge Thriller to Stay in Contention

In Bratislava, Kosovo delivered one of the standout matches of the round with a 4 to 3 win over Slovakia. The match saw multiple lead changes, with Slovakia opening the scoring early through Martin Valjent before Kosovo responded through Veldin Hodza.

Slovakia regained the lead before halftime via Lukas Haraslin, but Kosovo struck back immediately after the break through Fisnik Asllani. Florent Muslija’s free kick then gave Kosovo the advantage, before Kreshnik Hajrizi added a fourth goal in the 72nd minute.

Slovakia pulled one back late through David Strelec, but Kosovo held on under pressure in the closing minutes. The result means Kosovo, who only began international competition in 2014, are now one match away from their first major tournament appearance.

Turkey Set Up Decider Against Kosovo

Turkey secured their place in the playoff final with a 1 to 0 win over Romania in Istanbul. Ferdi Kadioglu scored the only goal shortly after halftime, finishing a precise pass from Arda Guler.

Turkey’s structured defensive setup limited Romania’s chances, with the team maintaining control in the second half to protect their lead. Managed by Vincenzo Montella, Turkey will now travel to face Kosovo in Pristina, with the winner joining Australia, the United States and Paraguay in Group D.

Other Results Across Europe

Elsewhere in the World Cup Qualifiers, Sweden defeated Ukraine 3 to 1, Poland beat Albania 2 to 1, and Denmark recorded a 4 to 0 win over North Macedonia. Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Czech Republic both progressed via penalty shootouts against Wales and Ireland respectively.

Tuesday’s playoff finals will determine the final teams to qualify, with Italy’s clash against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo’s meeting with Turkey among the key fixtures to watch.