Tonali and Kean fire Italy into World Cup play-off final with 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland

Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup play-offs semi-final at the New Balance Arena on Thursday.

Moise Kean had an effort blocked before Sandro Tonali headed wide from a corner as Italy started on the front foot.

Italy almost took the lead when the ball fell kindly to Tonali, but Trai Hume made a timely block to prevent him from scoring a tap-in.

Kean squandered a golden chance to break the deadlock, blazing over from a promising position, letting Northern Ireland off the hook.

Alessandro Bastoni headed over from Federico Dimarco’s corner as the hosts continued to crank up the pressure.

Just before half-time, Matteo Retegui fluffed his lines in a one-on-one with Pierce Charles. Jamie Donley then dragged an effort wide at the other end.

Shortly after the break, Retegui let another opportunity go begging, poking his effort straight at Charles after running through on goal.

Tonali put the Azzurri ahead in the 56th minute. The ball fell kindly to the Newcastle United midfielder in the box, and he slotted it beyond Charles’ reach.

Pio Esposito thought he had doubled the hosts’ lead with a glancing header, only for Hume to make a goalline clearance to avert the danger.

Kean eventually got on the scoresheet in the 80th minute. He beautifully controlled Tonali’s pass, wrong-footed his marker before bending the ball into the far corner.

Italy will face either Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina in next Tuesday’s play-off final.