Green and White Army confident of revenge after losing 2-0 to Azzurri in 2022 qualifier
The team are set to face the four-time World Cup winners in the semi-final play-offs for next year’s tournament on March 26.
It probably wasn’t the draw most were hoping for, as The Azzurri were the highest ranked country they could have drawn from pot one.
Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in a 2022 World Cup qualifier, but supporters are daring to believe history won’t repeat itself.
Belfast fan Kaitlyn McCullough said: “Italy beat us last time, so this is a chance for us to redeem ourselves.”
Gary McAllister, chairman of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs, believes it will be a tight match but believes Northern Ireland have improved enough since 2022 to take Italy by surprise.
“Italy will be very tough opponents, but Northern Ireland has knocked Italy out of a World Cup before, so we have to give it our best effort,” he said.
“I’ll be planning to travel for the game, and hopefully Italy won’t keep us waiting too long for the venue details.”
There is growing speculation it could be in Bergamo, home of Atalanta.
To get to the New Balance Arena, fans would need to fly into Milan Bergamo Airport, which is a 10-minute drive from the stadium.
There are no direct flights from Belfast to Bergamo, so supporters will need to leave out of Dublin.
Alastair McCann and Italy’s Manuel Locatelli during the World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park in 2021, which ended 0-0. Italy won the return fixture 2-0
Flights around the time of the match would average about £269, with a hotel costing £100 per night.
Supporters can expect to pay €6 (£5.28) for a pint , €20 (£17.61) for a meal in an inexpensive restaurant, and €2.90 (£2.55) for a soft drink.
Superfan Gary Shufflebottom told the Belfast Telegraph: “Visiting-wise, it’s worked out well, but probably the worst football-wise.
“It’ll be very difficult but we have an outside chance if we have a full squad. I do hope to make it out there.”
Fellow supporter Ryan Martin said: “I will absolutely travel to Italy, and with the Green and White Army behind the team, we are extremely capable of going and winning.”
Northern Ireland qualified for their first World Cup in 1958 by beating the Italians 2-1.
Ryan is hopeful history can repeat itself and the team can make their way into the play-off final and a chance of making next year’s tournament hosted jointly by the USA, Canada and Mexico.
He added: “Italy will be a very tough game and obviously it would have been ideal to not get them — but we have some fantastic players in Bradley and Price, who can make a moment out of nothing, as well as Galbraith and McNair.”