Italy’s Gianluca Mancini, left, and Bosnia’s Ermedin Demirovic tussle during the World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Armin Durgut)
By The Canadian Press
Mar 31, 2026 | 1:51 PM
TORONTO — Hopeful fans have packed a cafe in the heart of Toronto’s Little Italy to cheer on the Italian soccer team as it looks to secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup and face Canada in the country’s opening match.
Today’s playoff game between Italy and Bosnia-Herzegovina will determine who joins Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in Group B at the tournament, and plays against Canada in Toronto on June 12.
At Cafe Diplomatico on College Street, dozens of fans decked out in blue and white — the colours of Italy’s national team — are sipping drinks and eating with their eyes glued on the TV screens in the restaurant.
The crowd erupted in cheers when Italy scored the first goal of the match played at a stadium in Zenica, Bosnia.