Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy confirmed lineups: Big Retegui, Kean, Alajbegovic decisions made for World Cup playoff final

Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso has named an unchanged starting lineup for tonight’s pivotal 2026 World Cup playoff final against Bosnia-Herzegovina at Stadion Bilino Polje in Zenica.

The four-time world champions are bidding to end their 12-year hiatus from the biggest tournament in football and moved one step closer to achieving that by beating Northern Ireland 2-0 in their playoff semi-final last Thursday.

Mateo Retegui struggled to make the desired impact across 64 minutes against Northern Ireland, but the Al-Qadsiah striker will continue up front with Moise Kean, who scored Italy’s second goal last time out.

Sandro Tonali opened the scoring on Thursday and the in-demand Newcastle United midfielder will continue in the middle of the pitch alongside Nicolo Barella and Manuel Locatelli, while Matteo Politano and Federico Dimarco operate as wing-backs.

Key defensive duo Riccardo Calafiori and Alessandro Bastoni are both fit to start again in the back three with Gianluca Mancini, protecting goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Andrea Cambiaso has replaced Giorgio Scalvini in Gattuso’s matchday squad and will be joined on the substitutes’ bench by the likes of Pio Esposito, Davide Frattesi and Bryan Cristante.

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Alajbegovic benched, Basic replaces Tahirovic in Bosnia XI

As for Bosnia, manager Sergej Barbarez has made just the one change to the side that beat Wales on penalties in the playoff semi-finals on Thursday.

Astana midfielder Ivan Basic replaces Brondby’s Benjamin Tahirovic and will start alongside Ivan Sunjic and Esmir Bajraktarevic.

However, there is no start for highly-rated 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic who made a notable impression off the bench against Wales, so the Red Bull Salzburg talent will begin as a substitute once again.

Bosnia’s all-time record goalscorer and appearance-maker Edin Dzeko, who scored a crucial late equaliser against Wales, will continue to lead the line with Ermedin Demirovic.

Atalanta BC’s Sead Kolasinac will begin on the left side of a back three next to Nikola Katic and Tarik Muharemovic, while Amar Memic and Amar Dedic provide the width in wing-back roles.

Bosnia-Herzegovina starting lineup: Vasilj; Muharemovic, Katic, Kolasinac; Memic, Sunjic, Basic, Bajraktarevic, Dedic; Demirovic, Dzeko

Subs: Hadzikic, Zlomislic, Mujakic, Celik, Tahirovic, Gigovic, Bazdar, Hadziahmetovic, Burnic, Alajbegovic, Radeljic, Tabakovic

Italy starting lineup: Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui

Subs: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Spinazzola, Buongiorno, Raspadori, Pisilli, Pio Esposito, Cristante, Frattesi, Gatti, Cambiaso