Italy edged Northern Ireland 2-0 in World Cup playoff semifinals, with goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean, keeping its qualification hopes alive. The Azzurri now travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina for a decisive final-winner faces Canada in Toronto on June 12.
Bosnia advanced by defeating Wales. Italy, four-time World Cup champions, last appeared in 2014 and missed both 2018 and 2022 tournaments. Coach Gennaro Gattuso, who replaced Luciano Spalletti in June, called the win a “confidence boost” but stressed: “We have no other choice” but to win again.
Elsewhere, Sweden advanced behind Viktor Gyökeres’ hat trick, Poland survived Albania 2-1 thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s header, and Turkey edged Romania 1-0. Kosovo stunned Slovakia 4-3 after twice coming from behind, setting up a Turkey-Kosovo playoff. Denmark crushed North Macedonia 4-0.
The eight playoff finalists: Italy, Bosnia, Sweden, Poland, Turkey, Kosovo, Denmark, and Czech Republic-all competing Tuesday for four World Cup berths.