With the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted right here in Canada, as well as the US and Mexico, the final European qualifying spots are about to be decided. On Thursday, March 26, sixteen nations will compete in single-leg semi-finals across four paths (A, B, C, and D).
Format: Single-elimination. If tied after 90 minutes, games go to extra time and penalties.
Kick-off Times: All games at 2:45 PM ET (11:45 AM PT), except Türkiye vs. Romania at 12:00 PM ET (9:00 AM PT).
Path A
Italy vs. Northern Ireland
- The Story: Italy faces massive pressure to avoid missing a third straight World Cup. Manager Gennaro Gattuso admitted the squad is feeling the nerves. Northern Ireland hasn’t scored against Italy since 1961, but Michael O’Neill is pushing his players to embrace the underdog role.
| Market | Italy | Tie | N. Ireland |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | -350 | +450 | +1000 |
| To Advance | -800 | — | +500 |
Wales vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- The Story: Playing in Cardiff, Wales aims for their first-ever win against Bosnia (0-2-2 record). Coach Craig Bellamy claims to have found “a lot of weaknesses” in the Bosnian side.
| Market | Wales | Tie | Bosnia |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | -118 | +240 | +350 |
| To Advance | -250 | — | +175 |
Path B
Ukraine vs. Sweden
- The Story: Taking place in Valencia, Spain. Sweden is shorthanded with Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski out (injury), leaving the load to Arsenal’s Viktor Gyökeres. Ukraine’s Serhiy Rebrov is prioritizing physical peak performance.
| Market | Ukraine | Tie | Sweden |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | +180 | +225 | +155 |
| To Advance | +100 | — | -134 |
Poland vs. Albania
- The Story: A frequent matchup in recent years. Poland has won 10 of their 15 all-time meetings, but Albania’s Sylvinho warns that his squad’s spirit makes them dangerous in a 90-minute window.
| Market | Poland | Tie | Albania |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | -143 | +250 | +475 |
| To Advance | -334 | — | +240 |
All odds were taken from bet365 at 3:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 24.
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Path C
Türkiye vs. Romania (Early Kick-off: 12:00 PM ET)
- The Story: Tactical chess match. Romania’s 80-year-old boss Mircea Lucescu previously coached the Turkish national team and their top clubs (Galatasaray, Beşiktaş). Türkiye’s Vincenzo Montella says a 100% effort is the only way through.
| Market | Türkiye | Tie | Romania |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | -275 | +400 | +650 |
| To Advance | -600 | — | +400 |
Slovakia vs. Kosovo
- The Story: A first-ever meeting between these two. Slovakia is battling injury concerns, while Kosovo enters on a five-game unbeaten streak under Franco Foda, dreaming of their first major tournament.
| Market | Slovakia | Tie | Kosovo |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | +110 | +225 | +270 |
| To Advance | -188 | — | +137 |
Path D
Denmark vs. North Macedonia
- The Story: Denmark is looking to move past what coach Brian Riemer called “the fog of Scotland” after a rough qualifying end. North Macedonia enters with new leadership under manager Goce Sedloski.
| Market | Denmark | Tie | N. Macedonia |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | -334 | +425 | +1000 |
| To Advance | -800 | — | +500 |
Czechia vs. Republic of Ireland
- The Story: The Czechs have won three straight home games against Ireland. However, the Irish are high on confidence after a recent win over Portugal. Manager Heimir Hallgrímsson says his players hold “the future of Irish football in their hands.”
| Market | Czechia | Tie | Rep. Ireland |
| 90 Mins (Moneyline) | +100 | +240 | +280 |
| To Advance | -200 | — | +150 |
Sportsbook Features
- Early Payout: On Moneyline bets, your wager wins instantly if your team takes a 2-goal lead at any point in the match.
- Parlay Boost: Earn a percentage bonus on your total return when you combine three or more of these matches into a single parlay.
Would you like me to track the results of these matches on Thursday so we can look at the Final matchups?
Author:
Lucas Portela
Owner, BoldGambler • Avanhandava/SP
Oddsmaker, affiliate and content creator in the iGaming industry.