Italy heads into its upcoming clash with Northern Ireland balancing confidence with uncertainty, as the team looks to bounce back from recent disappointments, most notably a heavy defeat to Norway.

The match, set to take place in Bergamo, is a key moment for the Azzurri as they attempt to regain momentum in their qualification campaign.

Historically, Italy has dominated this fixture, with seven wins, three draws and just one defeat in 11 meetings. However, that lone loss - a 2–1 defeat in Belfast in 1958 - remains a painful memory, as it led to Italy’s first-ever failure to qualify for a World Cup.

Defensively, Italy has been particularly solid against Northern Ireland, keeping seven consecutive clean sheets. Still, the current context calls for a strong reaction: the team has never lost two consecutive home matches in World Cup qualifying and will be determined to avoid setting an unwanted record.

Attention is also on young forward Francesco Pio Esposito, who could make history by becoming one of the few players to score more than three goals for Italy before turning 21. Overall, Italy has shown attacking promise during qualifying, with 21 goals scored, but needs greater efficiency in decisive moments.