Bosnia & Herzegovina Face Italy in High-Stakes World Cup Playoff Showdown: Key Predictions, Tactics, and Starting Lineups Revealed

A spot at the 2026 World Cup is on the line in Zenica this Tuesday evening, as Italy face off against Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The Azzurri, four-time world champions, are looking to qualify for their first World Cup since 2014, and they cleared what felt like a significant obstacle on Thursday by defeating Northern Ireland.

Anxiety was widespread among Italian fans still haunted by previous eliminations at the hands of Sweden and North Macedonia, but Sandro Tonali's strike eased the tension in Bergamo. Moise Kean's follow-up finish brought added comfort and secured Italy's advancement.

Gennaro Gattuso is now gearing up for what he'll undoubtedly call the most important match of his managerial career, having been part of the playing squad that won the title back in 2006.

FIFA's 71st-ranked Bosnia stand between Italy and the World Cup after impressively eliminating Wales on penalties in their semifinal. Sergej Barbarez's side weathered a rowdy Cardiff atmosphere and mounted a comeback following Dan James's brilliant opening goal.

Bosnia & Herzegovina also haven't featured on football's grandest stage since 2014, having been eliminated in the group phase during their only appearance in Brazil. A 17-point tally in qualifying secured their playoff berth, and they're now eyeing a major upset to book their place at this summer's tournament.

Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Italy Score Prediction

Tonali's thunderous effort before the hour mark on Thursday helped transform a rather labored Italian performance into one of greater confidence. That moment may well have been exactly what the Azzurri needed to shake off the painful memories of 2018 and 2022.

However, they'll need to win on hostile ground to reach the World Cup, with Bosnia serving as hosts. Cameras captured some Italian players celebrating their upcoming opponents' penalty shootout win, suggesting a trip to Zenica was the preferred outcome over Cardiff.

Those images will inevitably be brought back into focus should things go wrong on Tuesday night, with defeat far from out of the question given Italy's recent track record.

Prediction: Bosnia & Herzegovina 1–2 Italy

Bosnia & Herzegovina Predicted Lineup vs. Italy

Bosnia's squad is certainly packed with experience, most notably 40-year-old Edin Džeko, who remains his country's all-time top scorer.

Džeko recently left Italy to join Schalke, whom he's working to guide back into the Bundesliga.

The veteran striker is the standout name the Azzurri will face on Tuesday night, though they'll also encounter some familiar faces. Tarik Muharemović (Sassuolo) and Sead Kolašinac (Atalanta) are regular Serie A performers for their respective clubs.

Barbarez is unlikely to make significant changes from the side that edged past Wales in the semifinal, despite going the full distance. However, 18-year-old FC Salzburg prospect Kerim Alajbegovic could force his way into the starting eleven.

Bosnia predicted lineup vs. Italy (4-4-2): Vasilj; Dedić, Muharemović, Katić, Kolašinac; Memić, Tahirović, Šunjić, Alajbegović; Demirović, Džeko.

Italy Predicted Lineup vs. Bosnia & Herzegovina

There are calls for young Inter striker Pio Esposito to earn a starting berth under Gattuso on Tuesday night, but the Azzurri boss will likely stick with the same side he fielded against Northern Ireland.

That means Mateo Retegui, who now plays in the Middle East following a standout season at Atalanta, will likely once again line up alongside the in-form Moise Kean.

Tonali is expected to lead an impressive Italian midfield, with the Azzurri also deploying a pair of attacking wingbacks in Federico Dimarco and Matteo Politano.

Napoli's Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Liverpool's Federico Chiesa are both sidelined through injury this month, but Riccardo Calafiori, Alessandro Bastoni, and Gianluca Mancini all came through the semifinal unharmed, having each recently dealt with minor fitness issues.

Italy predicted lineup vs. Bosnia (3-1-4-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Locatelli; Politano, Tonali, Barella, Dimarco; Retegui, Kean.

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