Former Northern Ireland and Leeds United wide man Stuart Dallas is part of BBC Sport NI's coverage of Thursday's World Cup play-off in Italy. Northern Ireland's World Cup play-off semi-final in Italy is a huge chance for the players to write their names in the history books. It has been 40 years since Northern Ireland's last World Cup, and they have been handed the toughest possible draw if they are to make the finals this summer. If they can win in Italy, and then again in either Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina, then it would be something very, very special. But the pressure is all on them to not miss out on a third World Cup in a row, so Northern Ireland have nothing to fear, nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Source: BBC March 24, 2026 19:34 UTC