Italy secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in Bergamo, earning their place in the UEFA 2026World CupQualifiers Path A playoff final. After famously missing the last two editions of the tournament, the Azzurri are now just one win away from returning to the world stage.
The encounter at the New Balance Arena began with high intensity from the hosts, but Michael O’Neill’s men deployed a disciplined defensive block that frustrated Italy’s creative efforts. Despite dominating possession, the Italians struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half, heading into the locker room with the score tied at 0-0.
Gennaro Gattuso’s men emerged for the second half with renewed determination. The deadlock was finally broken in the 64th minute when Sandro Tonali unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box that sent the Bergamo crowd into a frenzy.
With Northern Ireland forced to push forward for an equalizer, Italy found more space to operate. They officially sealed the result ten minutes from time when Moise Kean provided a clinical finish to make it 2-0, ending any hopes of a late comeback. With this victory, they move on to the Path A Final on Tuesday, March 31. Italy will face the winner of the other semifinal between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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End of the game!!
Italy defeated Northern Ireland 2-0 at the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers Path A playoff semifinal!
87'- Modification in Italy (2-0)
Moise Kean was replaced by Giacomo Raspadori.
82'- Modifications in Italy (2-0)
Matteo Politano and Sandro Tonali were replaced by Marco Palestra and Niccolo Pisilli.
Moise Kean attempted a spectacular bicycle kick that whistled just wide of Charles' post!
72'- Esposito almost scores! (1-0)
Following a corner kick, Pio Esposito outjumped the defense to connect with a powerful header, but it was incredibly cleared off the line by Trai Hume!
68'- Modification in Northern Ireland (1-0)
Terry Devlin was replaced by Paul Smyth.
65'- Another great save by Charles! (1-0)
Kean tried again with a powerful strike inside the box, but Charles was right there to saved it.
62'- Two modifications in Italy (1-0)
Mateo Retegui and Alessandro Bastoni were replaced by Pio Esposito and Federico Gatti.
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57'- First yellow card of the game (1-0)
Alessandro Bastoni was booked after a foul on Doyle.
55'- GOOOOOAAAAAAL FOR ITALY!!!! (1-0)
Sandro Tonali scores the opener of the game with a powerful strike!!
Moise Kean unleashed a powerful shot from the distance and Charles made a great save to send it out for a corner kick.
50'- Italy impose their game (0-0)
In the opening minutes of the second half, Italy are once again dominating the ball and pressing high in the offensive zone.
The second half is underway!
Italy and Northern Ireland are already playing the second half!
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First half summary
The first half in Bergamo has come to a close with very little to separate the two sides. Italy have dominated the flow of the match, holding 67% of the possession, yet they have struggled to translate that control into a clear advantage on the scoreboard.
Michael O'Neill’s defensive strategy for Northern Ireland has proven highly effective. His disciplined backline has successfully neutralized Italy's attempts to penetrate the final third, forcing the Azzurri into low-probability efforts. Italy managed only two shots on target during the opening 45 minutes, both of which were handled comfortably by goalkeeper Pierce Charles.
Halftime!
The game at the New Balance Arena goes to halftime!
43'- The game is still tied (0-0)
With only one shot on target from Italy, the match remains scoreless as both teams appear set to head into halftime without breaking the deadlock.
38'- Another try from Italy (0-0)
This time was Moise Kean who tried from the distance, but his shot went wide of Charles' goal.
32'- Nice try from Bastoni! (0-0)
Alessandro Bastoni attempted a header following a corner kick, but his effort was deflected by a defender and sent out for another corner.
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28'- Game's pace slows down (0-0)
The match has hit a plateau, with neither side able to create clear-cut scoring opportunities. Italy are attempting to break down Northern Ireland through set pieces, having already earned five corner kicks, while the visitors have managed only one.
18'- Northern Ireland gaining rythim (0-0)
Following the opening minutes, Northern Ireland have started to see more of the ball and are gradually beginning to pressure the goal defended by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
10'- Italy looking for the opener (0-0)
With great ball dominance, Italy are controlling the game and remain relentless on the attack. At the moment, they look much more likely than Northern Ireland to net the opening goal of the match.
4'- Nice try from Tonali! (0-0)
Following a corner kick, Sandro Tonali attempted a header that went just wide of the Northern Ireland's goalpost.
GAME ON!
The game between Italy and Northern Ireland is underway!
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Players are on the pitch!
Players from both teams are on the field for their national anthems. Everything is ready for the start of the match!
Italy's potential outcomes in today's game
Italy face three distinct scenarios for today’s match against Northern Ireland. A win would keep their World Cup dreams alive, advancing them to the final against the winner of the Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina semifinal.
A draw after 90 minutes would send the match into extra time, consisting of two 15-minute halves. If the deadlock persists, a penalty shootout will determine the winner. However, if Italy lose today, they will be officially eliminated, marking a historic third consecutive World Cup absence for the Azzurri.
Both teams doing warm up activities
Players for both sides have taken the field for warmups at the New Balance Arena!
How is Path A being played?
To qualify for the 2026 World Cup, the winner of today’s semifinal must go on to play a winner-takes-all final on March 31. Their opponent will be the victor of the other semifinal between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is also being played today.
Whoever ultimately secures the Path A slot will be placed into Group B of the 2026 World Cup. They will face a challenging group-stage schedule against co-hosts Canada, as well as Qatar and Switzerland.
Dutch referee Danny Makkelie has been appointed to officiate the clash between Italy and Northern Ireland. He will be joined on the field by Hessel Steegstra and Jan de Vries, who are set to serve as the assistant referees.
Full officiating team:
Referee: Danny Makkelie (NLD)
Assistant Referee 1: Hessel Steegstra (NLD)
Assistant Referee 2: Jan de Vries (NLD)
Fourth official: Jesus Gil Manzano (SPA)
VAR: Pol van Boekel (NLD)
Kickoff time and where to watch
Italy vs Northern Ireland will get underway at the New Balance Arena at 3:45 PM (ET).
Italy and Northern Ireland clash at the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers
Welcome to our live blog of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers! Italy host Northern Ireland in Bergamo for the Path A playoff semifinal, where only one team will keep its World Cup dream alive!
Stay with us for all the action and minute-by-minute updates of this exciting game!
Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, NBA, and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he first established himself as a writer. Throughout his career, Gianni has covered major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open. His ability to report on real-time events and perform well under pressure has made him a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, bringing his expertise in soccer, NBA, and tennis to deliver original content while providing live coverage of important events.
