Northern Ireland's World Cup dream ended in a 2-0 defeat to Italy in the play-off semi-final at the New Balance Arena. Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean scored for the hosts in Bergamo. The result means a first World Cup appearance in 40 years remains elusive. However, the performance of Michael O'Neill's young team, with an average age of just 22.5 years, provided significant pride.

Only Paddy McNair was over 24, and O'Neill was without key players like Conor Bradley, Trai Hume, and Ali McCann. Despite the loss, O'Neill emphasized the positives, stating the team's age and performance deserve recognition. He is optimistic about the future, noting the squad will improve and remain together for tournaments like Euro 2028.

O'Neill will revert to managing Blackburn Rovers for the remaining seven Championship games, with his contract with the Irish FA extending until 2028.