Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Italy, Betting Tips & Odds

Published on March 30th, 2026

Italy can end over a decade in the World Cup wilderness on Tuesday night when they play Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Path A play-off final in Zenica . Italy won a fourth world title in 2006 but have gone from riches to rags in a dramatic decline since then.

They were eliminated at the group stage in both 2010 and 2014, winning just one match over the two tournaments, but worse was to follow as they failed to even qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Bosnia-Herzeogovina v Italy Result - International Football

Bosnia-Herzeogovina

Italy

Draw

Another bitter disappointment looked on the cards this time too after losing 3-0 to Norway in their opening qualifier, but that defeat proved a turning point for the Italians . Luciano Spalletti was sacked and replaced by Gennaro Gattuso , and under the former AC Milan midfielder, Italy reeled off five wins in six qualifiers to finish runners-up behind the Norwegians in Group I, before beating Northern Ireland in last week's play-off semi-final.

Italy now face a huge winner-takes-all clash with Bosnia , who themselves are looking to reach the World Cup for only the second time since becoming an independent nation in 1992. They booked their spot in the play-off final with a penalty shoot-out win over Wales and, with Edin Dzeko still a major threat at the age of 40, they will be hopeful of ending their own World Cup heartache.

But we think it will be Italy, who have won four of their six meetings with Bosnia , celebrating tomorrow night, with our prediction being the Azzurri to qualify in normal time @6/10.

8/15

● LIVE ODDS Italy Match Betting

Bosnia & Herzegovina v Italy Betting Odds – International Football

Result	Odds	Chance
Bosnia & Herzegovina	11/2	15.4%
Italy	8/15	65.2%
Draw	13/5	27.8%

Bosnia & Herzegovina are 11/2 outsiders for this World Cup playoff, Italy are 8/15 favourites, and the draw in 90 minutes is priced at 13/5.

*Odds are correct at the time of writing, but subject to change.

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Bosnia & Herzegovina v Italy Preview

How to Watch Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Italy

The World Cup play-off final is scheduled to begin at 7.45 (BST) on Tuesday and will be shown live on Amazon Prime PPV.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Form Guide

Bosnia’s only previous appearance at the World Cup was in 2014 when they were knocked out at the group stage, finishing third behind eventual runners-up Argentina and Nigeria . They had the chance to qualify automatically this time but could only draw 1-1 with Austria in their final game after conceding a 77th-minute equaliser in Vienna , meaning they finished two points behind the group winners.

There was also late drama in the play-off semi-finals, but this time it favoured Bosnia as Dzeko’s 86th-minute leveller against Wales sent the Cardiff tie to penalties, where the visitors won 4-2. Dzeko extended his national record to 73 goals for his country and, having also scored in Bosnia’s last three internationals in Zenica , the former Inter Milan , Roma and Fiorentina hitman could do significant damage to Italy’s World Cup hopes.

Dzeko is 7/2 to score against Italy , a bet well worth considering, while Bosnia to win either half in front of their fans at Stadion Bilino Polje is 11/4.

7/2

● LIVE ODDS Edin Dzeko Anytime Goalscorer

Italy Form Guide

Italy had the chance to secure a World Cup return in the final round of qualification but could find no way to stop the Norway juggernaut in Milan . Francesco Pio Esposito gave the Italians hope with an 11th-minute opener at San Siro , but Norway roared back after the break with two goals from Erling Haaland and one each from Antonio Nusa and Jorgen Strand Larsen , earning a 4-1 win.

That sent Italy into the play-offs , where they lost to Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022, but Gattuso’s men safely negotiated the first hurdle this time with a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland thanks to goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean in Bergamo .

Italy have certainly not found scoring too much of a problem since Gattuso took charge, averaging almost three goals a game under the former Azzurri dog of war, and that offers plenty of scope for betting options. Mateo Retegui and Kean have each struck five times in Gattuso’s eight matches in the hotseat, and they are 11/10 and 5/4 respectively to add to that tally tomorrow. Kean has also been Italy’s first goalscorer in three of those fixtures, and he is 7/2 to notch first in Zenica . Inter Milan youngster Esposito , meanwhile, is 6/4 to score a fourth goal in six games for his country.