Italy will play a World Cup playoff semifinal on Thursday at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, marking a crucial moment for the national team's qualification hopes.

The match represents a significant opportunity for the Azzurri to secure their place in the upcoming World Cup after a period of disappointing results in recent major tournaments. Italy's national team has faced challenges in qualifying for major competitions in recent years.

The team's recent history includes being eliminated from the 2010 World Cup at the group stage, an early exit that former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon acknowledged as indicative of deeper issues facing Italian football at the time.

Despite winning the European Championship in 2021, Italy's World Cup qualification campaign has required them to navigate the playoff system rather than qualifying automatically through their group.

The playoff semifinal will determine whether Italy advances to a final playoff match that could secure their World Cup berth. The outcome will significantly impact a generation of Italian players and the country's football program moving forward.