Sandro Tonali: “We have to win the second game to play in the World Cup.”
Post: Result Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland, Thursday, 26 March 2026, World Cup Playoffs
🗣️ “We keep going, we keep pushing because we have to win the second game to play in the World Cup.”
Sandro Tonali speaks to @adriandelmonte after Italy’s 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland.#WCQ #Italy 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/1TYIPb0wQA
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) March 26, 2026
Result Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland, Thursday, 26 March 2026, World Cup Playoffs
63% Ball Possession ITALY and 37% Ball Possession N. IRELAND
Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland 
👉 🇮🇹 Italy has taken a significant step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. On Thursday, March 26, Italy triumphed in the Playoff match held at the Renato Dall’Ara Stadium. They secured a 2–0 victory over Northern Ireland, with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
In simple terms, it was crucial to achieve this as best as possible. Italy faced challenges but ultimately celebrated a win. They managed to set aside all worries and fears, even after a lackluster first half. It wasn’t until the second half that Italy discovered their scoring path. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma hardly had to intervene, acting almost as a spectator. The final hurdle for qualification is set for Tuesday.
With a remarkable head-to-head record, Italy has not lost to Northern Ireland since 1958. Italy has achieved seven consecutive clean sheets against them.
⚽️ Italy gains the upper hand in the 56th minute. Sandro Tonali scores with a right-footed shot that beats Northern Ireland’s goalkeeper, Pierce Charles, in the bottom right corner.
⚽️ Italy extends their lead in the 80th minute! Moise Kean scores with a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner. Sandro Tonali provides the assist. What a fantastic play by Italy! Pio Esposito passes to Tonali; the ball then goes to Kean, who skillfully controls it, turns, and blasts it into the net with his left foot. GOOAAALLLLL
5 – Prior to Moise #Kean, the last player to score in 5 matches in a row for Italy was Salvatore Schillaci between June and July 1990. Predator.#ITANIR pic.twitter.com/hXnaGRgYIT
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 26, 2026
#ItalianSoccerSerieA #ITANIR #WorldCup #Tonali
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Statistics: Italy has a flawless record against Northern Ireland, with five victories and two draws, and they have not conceded a single goal in their last seven encounters.
Currently ranked 69th in the FIFA Rankings, Northern Ireland secured their spot by finishing first in Nations League Group C. They placed third in Qualifying Group A, behind Germany and Slovakia, with a record of three wins and three losses. The two teams have met eleven times, with Italy winning seven matches, drawing three, and suffering one unfortunate defeat—a 2-1 loss on January 15, 1958, in Belfast, which cost the Azzurri a World Cup qualification. Their most recent encounter, also in Belfast, ended in a 0-0 draw during the final qualifier for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which led Italy to the play-offs.
Credit via x.com/Atalanta_BC
🎶🎶 Fratelli d’Italia,
l’Italia s’è desta,
dell’elmo di Scipio
s’è cinta la testa.
Dov’è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò. 🎶🎶
Italy’s national anthem ahead of its FIFA World Cup Qualifying playoff matchup against Northern Ireland 🎵🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/7XL9N4OZTU
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) March 26, 2026
Credit via x.com/Azzurri_En
Photo via x.com/Azzurri
World Cup Playoffs
🇮🇹 Italy 2 – 0 Northern Ireland
Thursday, 26 March 2026
New Balance Arena
Bergamo, Italy
20:45
Referee: Danny Makkelie
Assistants: Hessel Steegstra and Jan De Vries
Fourth official: Jesus Gil Manzano.
VAR: Pol van Boekel
AVAR: Jeroen Manschot
⚽️ Goals: 56′ Sandro Tonali, 80′ Moise Kean
🟨 Yellow Cards: 58′ Alessandro Bastoni (I)
✅ Official lineups – Tabellino:
🇮🇹 Lineup ITALIA (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui.
Subs: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Gatti, Scalvini, Pisilli, Cristante, Frattesi, Raspadori, Esposito
Head Coach: Gennaro Gattuso
Lineup IRLANDA DEL NORD (3-5-1-1): Charles, Hume, McNair, McConville; Devlin, Charles, Galbraith, Devenny, Spencer; Price; Donley.
Head Coach: Michael O’Neill
Italy vs Northern Ireland Official Lineups, Thursday, 26 March 2026, World Cup Playoff
Italy – Northern Ireland Here are Italy vs Northern Ireland official starting lineups on Thursday, 26 March, 2026, in the World Cup Playoff at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo, Italy. The game starts at 20:45.
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🇮🇹 Lineup ITALIA (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Kean, Retegui.
Subs: Carnesecchi, Meret, Palestra, Buongiorno, Spinazzola, Gatti, Scalvini, Pisilli, Cristante, Frattesi, Raspadori, Esposito
Head Coach: Gennaro Gattuso
Lineup IRLANDA DEL NORD (3-5-1-1): Charles, Hume, McNair, McConville; Devlin, Charles, Galbraith, Devenny, Spencer; Price; Donley..
Head Coach: Michael O’Neill
Photo via x.com/Azzurri
World Cup Playoffs
🇮🇹 Italy – Northern Ireland
Thursday, 26 March 2026
New Balance Arena
Bergamo, Italy
20:45
Referee: Danny Makkelie
Assistants: Hessel Steegstra and Jan De Vries
Fourth official: Jesus Gil Manzano.
VAR: Pol van Boekel
AVAR: Jeroen Manschot
For many supporters, attending a World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, the 2026 tournament will require some of the longest journeys ever associated with the competition. With matches spread across a continent and the format expanded to 48 teams, fans could face extensive air travel, leading to significant carbon emissions.
An England supporter travelling from London and following every match through to the final would cover nearly two-thirds of the Earth’s circumference. Group-stage travel alone could exceed 1,760 miles between host cities, but a full run to the final would push total mileage to at least 14,698 miles if England tops their group or 15,385 miles if they finish second.
These journeys come with a heavy environmental cost. The estimated emissions per England fan range from 3.4 to 3.5 tonnes of CO₂e, roughly equivalent to heating an average UK home for 19 months. With more than five million fans expected to attend, the cumulative impact becomes substantial.
Flying remains the most carbon-intensive form of transport, releasing greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. According to analysis cited in the article, one fan’s emissions for the full tournament could match several times the annual carbon output of individuals in lower-income nations.
Scotland supporters will travel shorter distances during the group stage—around 1,258 miles between venues—but their total mileage increases significantly if the team progresses. A journey to the final after winning the group would exceed 12,420 miles, producing about 2.8 tonnes of CO₂e, while a runner-up route could reach 13,771 miles and 3.3 tonnes.
Fans acknowledge the environmental dilemma. While many feel compelled to support their teams in person, there is growing awareness of the ecological consequences. Efforts are being made by supporter groups to promote more sustainable behaviour and encourage responsibility among travelling fans.
Travel demands vary widely depending on team location and progression. Some European play-off teams could face more than 3,140 miles during the group stage alone. Meanwhile, South African supporters are projected to travel the furthest overall, with group-stage journeys exceeding 21,000 miles and potential totals reaching nearly 27,000 miles if their team advances deep into the tournament.
The emissions linked to such distances are significant. For South African fans, group-stage travel alone could generate 4.7 tonnes of CO₂e, rising to 5.9 tonnes in certain knockout scenarios—figures comparable to the country’s average annual per-person emissions.
FIFA has acknowledged the environmental challenges linked to the tournament, particularly the role of air travel in driving emissions. The organisation has stated that reducing flight-related impact remains one of the biggest sustainability hurdles for major events.
To address this, several initiatives have been outlined. These include using existing stadiums, adopting a regional hosting model to limit long-distance travel for some attendees, and improving operational efficiency through energy-saving measures, public transport promotion, and electric vehicles.
Additional efforts focus on recycling, cutting food waste, and launching tree-planting programmes across host regions. Despite these measures, critics argue that such actions may not fully offset the environmental cost of a tournament of this scale.
A report referenced in the article estimates that the 2026 World Cup could generate up to nine million tonnes of CO₂e. This would be almost double the average footprint of the previous four tournaments, making it the most environmentally damaging edition to date.
Aviation is expected to account for the majority of emissions—between 80% and 90%. Experts stress that limiting air travel is one of the most effective ways to reduce overall impact, yet the tournament’s expanded format and multi-country hosting make this difficult.
Comparisons with past events highlight the difference. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was highly compact, with minimal travel required between venues. Earlier tournaments in countries like Brazil and Russia involved longer distances but were still confined to single nations with fewer teams.
Looking ahead, future editions may continue this trend. The 2030 tournament will span multiple continents, while the 2034 event in Saudi Arabia will involve newly built stadiums, raising further environmental considerations.
Calafiori: “Think positively, need to be more carefree and focused”
The Arsenal defender spoke in a press conference at Coverciano: “The fans in Bergamo will help us. Gattuso kept in touch when I was out.”
The last time Italy played in a World Cup, Riccardo Calafiori was just eleven years old. Today, at 23 years of age, he can help the Azzurri make it to North America and guarantee the many young fans the chance to watch Italy in the finals of the tournament for the first time. “Going to the World Cup is something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid,” he said in a press conference at Coverciano today. “I can’t wait to play in this game. The pressure is on, and it’s useless to try to avoid it. We know how important it is to qualify. We all want the same thing. We’ll try to shed the worry and think positively.”
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