After lifting the trophy in 2006, Italy's record at the World Cup has been dire. Northern Ireland are big underdogs against Italy but hope to end a 40-year absence from the World Cup. Path BUkraine's footballers will hope to lift the morale of a war-torn country by competing at a first World Cup in 20 years. Slovakia, who last featured at the World Cup in 2010, host Kosovo in Bratislava while Turkey and Romania square off in Istanbul. Turkey have not played at the World Cup since a surprise third-place finish in 2002.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha March 24, 2026 03:45 UTC