Italy Vs Northern Ireland Highlights, FIFA WC 2026 Qualifiers: Kean, Tonali Goals Hand Azzurri Victory In Bergamo

When is the Italy vs Northern Ireland FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff match?

The Italy vs Northern Ireland FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff match will begin at 1:15AM IST on Friday, March 27 (or 19:45PM GMT on Thursday, March 26). 

Where is the Italy vs Northern Ireland FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff match?

The Italy vs Northern Ireland FIFA World Cup 2026 playoff match will be played at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo.

The Azzurri host Northern Ireland in the standout semi-final of the 2026 World Cup's European playoffs at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo on Friday (March 27 as per India time).

Here's the reason why you should follow tonight's ITA vs NIR match!

Italy: Donnaruma (c), Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori, Politano, Barrella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco, Kean, Retegui.

Subs: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Spinazzola, Buongiorno, Raspadori, Pisilli, Esposito, Cristante, Fratessi, Gatti, Scalvini.

Northern Ireland: P Charles, Hume (c), McConville, McNair, Devlin, S Charles, Devenny, Spencer, Galbraith, Price, Donley.

Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Hazard, Toal, Atcheson, Saville, Marshall, Kelly, Smyth, Lyons, Reid, Magennis, Brown.

• Total matches: 11

• Italy won: 7

• Northern Ireland won: 1

• Draws: 3

The Italy vs Northern Ireland, FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers semi-final will be telecast live on the Sony TEN 2 channel in India. It will also be live-streamed in India on the SonyLIV app and website.

Italy lost out to Sweden in the 2018 play-off at the San Siro, where they also lost to Norway in the current qualifying campaign. The Azzurri came under more fire when they missed out on the 2022 World Cup after losing to North Macedonia in Palermo.

And we are away in Bergamo. The visitors are eyeing to move a step closer to a first World Cup since 1986.

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland 5'

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori concedes a corner for Northern Ireland a corner after a good spell of possession.

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland 15'

Justin Devenny plays in a really inviting corner but no NIR player gets to the end of it and the chance is wasted.

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland 16'

Italians are unable to cut through the NIR defence with the score still remaining 0-0 with over 20 minutes into the game. Azzurri have a vocal fan following tonight and they would surely not like to disappoint their fans inside the stadium.

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland 22'

Be it long throws, corners or anything else - Northern Ireland's way of getting a goal or two could be either one of them. Italians are favourites for tonight's game but football has always produced an element of surprise!

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland 34'

Can Northern Ireland hold out with Italy launching wave after wave of attack? We are seven minutes away from HT plus stoppages.

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland 38'

Wow! Home fans are not happy how things have panned out in this half as they jeer off their players whereas NIR go at the break with their heads held high.

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland

We are away in Bergamo with teams eyeing a goal and the Italians will be under more pressure, given they were jeered off at the break.

Italy 0-0 Northern Ireland 47'

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has given Italy the lead over a rigid Northern Ireland side. A cross into the box was only half-cleared by Isaac Price but it falls in the feet of Tonali as he rifles home beyond NIR goalie.

Italy 1-0 Northern Ireland 56'

Northern Ireland need a response and quick or else this match could slip out of their hands. ITA have got their early goal and it remains to be seen whether they add to that or hold on.

Italy 1-0 Northern Ireland 65'

Trai Hume clears Pio Esposito's glancing header off the line and out for another corner.

That was headed in or it could have been a goal for Riccardo Calafiori for an easy tap in.

Italy 1-0 Northern Ireland 75'

Former Everton forward Moise Kean delivers the dagger in NIR hearts with a goal after a neatly provided lob by Tonali. Italy are all but secured in to the next round of the Qualifiers.

Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland 80'

ITA ring in the changes with victory all but secured as Matteo Politano and first goalscorer Sandro Tonali are off with Marco Palestra and Niccolo Pisilli on.

Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland 85'

Full-time in Bergamo as Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 with an inspirational performance from Sandro Tonali. The Newcastle player's future is up in the air with his current club, and tonight's performance has just alerted far more clubs.

Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland