World Cup qualifiers 2018: Italy vs. Albania start time, TV channel, and live stream

Italy have made as bright a start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as could have been realistically hoped, with Giampiero Ventura’s men having picked up 10 points from their opening four matches. Only tiebreakers keep them below provisional pacesetters Spain, and the Azzurri should have little problem maintaining their momentum when Albania visit on Friday.

Though Italy should be careful to avoid complacency against an Albania side that made it to their first major international tournament at last year’s Euros, they will be expecting to record a comfortable victory on home soil. Albania started their qualifying campaign with wins over Macedonia and Liechtenstein, though have followed up their initial promise with consecutive defeats at home to Spain and Israel.

Date and time: Friday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 8:45 p.m. local

TV: Fox Sports 2 (U.S. - English); Fox Deportes (U.S. - Spanish); Sportsnet One (Canada); Sky Sports Red Button (U.K.)

Online streaming: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2Go (U.S.); Sportsnet World Now (Canada); Sky Go (U.K.)

For online listings in other countries, you can check out LiveSoccerTV

1. These sides last met in a friendly in Genoa in 2014, with Albania proving to be surprisingly stubborn opponents. Italy striker Stefano Okaka came off the bench to score the only goal of the game in the final few minutes, on what was his debut appearance for the national side.

2. The Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo, where this game will be played, is familiar territory for Albania coach Gianni De Biasi. He turned out over a century of times for Palermo during his playing days, between 1983 and 1986.

3. Italy have a good record in the 13 games they’ve played at the Barbera. They’ve won 11 of those matches, drawing one and suffering their only defeat against Croatia in 1994.