Italy will first host Northern Ireland in a World Cup qualifying playoff in March but would then need to win on the road to reach its first tournament after back-to-back failures at this stage.

On Thursday, FIFA held the playoffs draw that will send the winner between four-time champion Italy and the Northern Irish on March 26 to travel to face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina five days later. At stake was a place at the first 48-team finals tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Italy have not played at a World Cup since 2014 and were pushed into the playoffs after finishing runners-up in a qualifying group won by Norway this month.

In other European playoff brackets, Ukraine will host Sweden, and the winner will then play at home against either Poland or Al

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