Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill expressed his satisfaction that the World Cup play-off semi-final against Italy will take place in Bergamo. The match is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2026, at the New Balance Arena, home to Serie A club Atalanta. The stadium has a capacity of around 23,439 spectators.
O'Neill believes the smaller venue, compared to larger Italian stadiums, will benefit his squad. He stated that many of his players are accustomed to playing in grounds with capacities between 10,000 and 30,000. The manager visited the Stadio di Bergamo over the Christmas period to assess the setting, reinforcing his view.
Italy confirmed Bergamo as the venue for the FIFA World Cup 2026 European play-off semi-final. Should Northern Ireland defeat Italy, they will face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final on March 31, which will also be an away fixture.
