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BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Sandro Tonali of Italy scores his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Italy are through to the World Cup play-off final, as Sandro Tonali scored one and assisted another for Moise Kean to break Northern Ireland down.
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The Azzurri went into this crucial match without Federico Chiesa, Mattia Zaccagni, Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Gianluca Scamacca, but Alessandro Bastoni and Matteo Politano shook off knocks to start. Northern Ireland missed Ali McCann, Conor Bradley and Daniel Ballard, qualifying for the play-offs largely thanks to their Nations League results. The winners will face either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off final away from home on March 31.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
Federico Dimarco twice tested the goalkeeper at the near post early on, including a ferocious half-volley was parried at the near post and struck Mateo Retegui.
Ethan Galbraith slipped on the counter-attack and prodded a finish straight at Gianluigi Donnarumma when he should’ve passed to Isaac Price.
Retegui’s angled drive was also charged down by Ruari McConville, while Bastoni’s header was deflected just wide off Brodie Spencer.
Moise Kean blasted high and wide from the edge of the area, while Bastoni nodded over from another corner.
Retegui’s effort was straight at the goalkeeper, then after the restart a Riccardo Calafiori hopeful attempt with his weaker right foot was deflected into the arms of Pierce Charles.
Retegui should’ve scored when he was sent clear through the middle on a Northern Ireland error, but his first touch was poor and he clattered into the goalkeeper.
Moments later, Charles got down for a great fingertip save on the Kean angled drive.
The pressure paid off, as a Politano cross was headed clear by Isaac Price to the edge of the area, where Tonali let it bounce to smash in hard and low with his right foot on the half-volley.
Federico Gatti replaced Bastoni after a yellow card, but Kean forced another save with an angled drive after running down the right.
Dimarco’s touch was too heavy as Riccardo Calafiori rolled across, but Gianluigi Donnarumma got away with a terrible pass intercepted by Donley.
Francesco Pio Esposito’s glancing header from a corner was cleared almost off the line by Hume with Calafiori ready to make sure behind him.
Kean went so close with an acrobatic overhead kick from Barella’s cross on a short corner, but it was just a warning, as moments later he made it 2-0.
Tonali was involved again with a ball over the top, Kean controlled with his right, used the bounce to turn inside his defender and sweep the left-foot snooker shot in off the inside of the far post.
Marco Palestra made his senior debut and showed his skill with a sensational take on Dimarco’s cross, but Pio Esposito couldn’t keep it in play.
In added time, a Northern Ireland free kick ricocheted around in the six-yard box, but nobody could finish it off.
Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
Tonali 56 (I), Kean 80 (I)
26-03-2026 19:45
1/2 Final
ITANIR
Live2 – 0
Player statistic
| Sandro Tonali | 56' |
| Alessandro Bastoni | 58' |
| Moise Kean(Assist: Sandro Tonali) | 80' |
ITA
NIR
Starting lineups
1
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Goalkeeper
21
Alessandro Bastoni
Defender
63′
3
Federico Dimarco
Defender
23
Gianluca Mancini
Defender
13
Riccardo Calafiori
Defender
5
Manuel Locatelli
Midfielder
18
Nicolò Barella
Midfielder
8
Sandro Tonali
Midfielder
83′
9
Mateo Retegui
Attacker
64′
7
Matteo Politano
Attacker
83′
11
Moise Kean
Attacker
23
Pierce Charles
Goalkeeper
20
Brodie Spencer
Defender
73′
17
Paddy McNair
Defender
13
Ruairi McConville
Defender
5
Trai Hume
Defender
7
Ethan Galbraith
Midfielder
14
Isaac Price
Midfielder
15
Justin Devenny
Midfielder
19
Shea Charles
Midfielder
2
Terry Devlin
Midfielder
68′
10
Jamie Donley
Attacker
79′
Substitutes
16
Bryan Cristante
Midfielder
4
Leonardo Spinazzola
Defender
22
Alex Meret
Goalkeeper
6
Alessandro Buongiorno
Defender
20
Giorgio Scalvini
Defender
10
Giacomo Raspadori
Attacker
17
Davide Frattesi
Midfielder
12
Marco Carnesecchi
Goalkeeper
19
Federico Gatti
Defender
63′
15
Pio Esposito
Attacker
64′
14
Niccolò Pisilli
Midfielder
83′
2
Marco Palestra
Defender
83′
12
Conor Hazard
Goalkeeper
1
Bailey Peacock-Farrell
Goalkeeper
6
George Saville
Midfielder
22
Ciaron Brown
Defender
3
Eoin Toal
Defender
8
Callum Marshall
Attacker
16
Brad Lyons
Midfielder
9
Patrick Kelly
Midfielder
4
Tom Atcheson
Defender
11
Paul Smyth
Attacker
68′
18
Jamie Reid
Attacker
73′
21
Josh Magennis
Attacker
79′
