Italian media are concerned about the conditions in which Italy will play its 2026 World Cup playoff against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday (8:45pm) in a dilapidated stadium, on a snow-covered field, in a polluted city.
Is it the scene of a huge relief or a new disappointment? Italy will play its qualification for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday (9pm) against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the aging Bilino-Polje stadium in Zenica. An arena that seems like a trap according to the first impressions of Italian media who arrived on site over the weekend. The stadium, built in 1972, lacks aesthetic freshness. The snowfall over the weekend has not helped the situation. On the contrary.
UEFA has asked Italy to delay their arrival on site and train at their training center in Coverciano to avoid damaging the stadium’s field. Gennaro Gattuso’s men are expected to arrive on site only Monday night in Zenica, “one of the most polluted cities in Europe”, as stated by the Gazzetta dello Sport.
The leading Italian sports daily was not impressed by what they found on site. “A compact stadium, without an athletics track, with stands right on the edge of the field, capable of amplifying the noise and pressure of the crowd,” one article enumerates. The Corriere dello Sport was equally unimpressed by the “dilapidated” state of the stadium overrun by “tall grass”. Nor by the local environment. “Zenica is not only famous for its steel mills and chimneys that have polluted the city’s air and raised concerns among environmentalists and residents about the increase in cancer cases over the past ten years. It also houses the most sadly famous and toughest prison in former Yugoslavia.” The ultras of the resident club Celik Zenica took inspiration from this, calling themselves the “Robijasi” (prisoners).
With a capacity of 14,000 seats, the stadium can be quite hostile. But on Tuesday, it will not be full as UEFA has reduced the capacity by 20% as a sanction for the behavior of Bosnian fans against Romania (3-1) last November. The Federation was criticized for “discrimination, racism, disruption of the national anthem, and lack of order and discipline inside and outside the stadium” by its fans. Around 9,000 spectators are expected in a heated atmosphere but less than it could be.
Once impregnable for Bosnia-Herzegovina, the stadium is no longer invincible for Edin Dzeko’s teammates, regularly beaten at home like in September against Austria (1-2) or during the 2024 Nations League campaign with three defeats in as many home games. France won there in 2021 (0-1) with a goal from Antoine Griezmann. Italy also knows the recipe for success with a victory in these same places in 2020 (0-2). Several current players (Donnarumma, Bastoni, Barella) played in that match… behind closed doors. The atmosphere will be much noisier and hostile on Tuesday.
