When to watch Italy vs. Northern Ireland
- Thursday, March 26 at 2:45 p.m. ET (11:45 a.m. PT).
Where to watch
- Italy vs. Northern Ireland will air in the US on Fubo and Vix.
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Footballing giant Italy is desperate to end its 12-year absence from soccer's biggest competition as it faces off against a young Northern Ireland team today in this high-stakes FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff semifinal.
After a poor start to their qualification campaign, the Azzurri went on a run of six straight wins under new boss Gennaro Gattuso. But a dispiriting 4-1 defeat at San Siro to Norway back in November ensured they would have to go through the playoffs to reach this summer's tournament. In an apparent effort to create a more intimidating atmosphere, Gattuso requested that this match be played at the smaller Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia in Bergamo, as he seeks to prevent Italy from suffering a third successive failure to reach the World Cup.
They take on a Northern Ireland team that has had an even longer wait since its last World Cup appearance, having not qualified since Mexico '86. Coach Michael O'Neill's inexperience may factor into this match as the team attempts to inflict its first defeat on Italy since the 1958 World Cup. That challenge is made even more difficult by the absence through injury of key defender Daniel Ballard, who's having a wonderful season at Sunderland.
The reward for today's winner will be a decisive playoff final away from home against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina next Tuesday.
Italy takes on Northern Ireland in Bergamo on Thursday, March. 26. Kickoff is set for 8:45 p.m. CET local time. That makes it a 7:45 p.m. GMT start in the UK and Ireland, and a 3:45 p.m. ET or 12:45 p.m. PT start in the US and Canada. For viewers in Australia, the game gets underway at 6:45 a.m. AEDT on Friday morning.
20-year-old Inter Milan striker Pio Esposito has scored three goals in his last four World Cup qualifying appearances for Italy.
Image Photo Agency/Getty Images Livestream the Italy vs. Northern Ireland match in the US
Today's game is available to watch in the US on Fubo. This match is also available to watch in the US on the Spanish-language streaming service Vix.
Sports-first live TV streaming platform Fubo is showing a select number of FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers this week via pay-per-view, including this fixture.
The match can be purchased for $20 and doesn't require a regular subscription to Fubo in order to watch.
While TelevisaUnivision's Spanish-language streaming service has a free tier, in order to watch this match you'll need to be a subscriber to Vix Plus.
The service currently starts at $5 per month for its Premium with Ads tier, and rises to $7 per month for its Premium ad-free option.
How to watch the Italy vs. Northern Ireland match from anywhere with a VPN
If you're traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the World Cup qualifier action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. Additionally, it can be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, providing an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security.
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you're considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's installation instructions to ensure you're connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial.
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Livestream the Italy vs. Northern Ireland match in the UK for free
The great news for football fans in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is that this crucial playoff match is being broadcast live on free-to-air channel BBC3. That means the game can also be watched online for free via the BBC's streaming service iPlayer.
This game can be watched online for free via the BBC's on-demand streaming service, BBC iPlayer.
With an app that's available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game.
Livestream the Italy vs. Northern Ireland match in Australia
Football fans Down Under can watch this match on streaming service Stan Sport.
Stan Sport will set you back AU$20 a month (on top of a Stan subscription, which starts at AU$12). It's also worth noting that the streaming service is currently offering a seven-day free trial.
A subscription will also give you access to Premier League, Champions League and Europa League action, as well as international rugby and Formula E.
Livestream the Italy vs. Northern Ireland match in Canada
If you want to stream this game live in Canada, you'll need to subscribe to DAZN Canada.
A DAZN subscription currently costs CA$30 a month or CA$200 a year and will also give you access to the UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League, plus EFL Championship soccer, Six Nations rugby and WTA tennis.
As well as dedicated apps for iOS and Android, there's a wide range of support for set-top boxes and smart TVs.