In the World Cup qualifying match between Italy and Norway, Italy needed to beat Norway by a nine-goal margin to leapfrog them and claim first place in Group I for direct qualification.
However, the near-impossible mission never came close to happening. Instead of producing a miracle, Italy were crushed at home, with Haaland scoring twice in two minutes, resulting in a heavy 1–4 defeat and forcing the Azzurri into the playoffs.
Norway Entered the Match With a Strong Advantage
Before this round, Norway had won all seven of their matches, leading Italy by three points and an additional 17 goal difference, practically securing their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
Italy, meanwhile, had responded to their opening 0–3 away loss to Norway with six straight victories. Such a record would have been enough for direct qualification in most groups, yet in the highly competitive Group I, it only kept them in second place.
Unless Italy defeated Norway 9–0 in this match, a comeback was nearly impossible.
Before kick-off, Italy head coach Gennaro Gattuso said: “Winning by nine goals is extremely difficult, but never say impossible.” However, judging by the result, his optimism now seems overly naïve.
Italy Take the Lead, Norway Hits Back Strongly in the Second Half
In the 11th minute, Italy produced a brilliant combination in the penalty area. Dimarco played a clever through ball, and Esposito turned and finished to give the hosts a dream start.
In the 63rd minute, Norway’s Nusa broke through on the left side of the box and fired home to level the score at 1–1.
Haaland’s Two-Minute Brace Changes Everything
In the 78th and 79th minutes, Norway’s star striker Erling Haaland struck twice in the space of two minutes, completely flipping the match and giving the visitors a 3–1 lead.
In stoppage time, substitute Larsen dribbled past a defender on the right side of the penalty area and slotted the ball into the far corner with his left foot, sealing Norway’s 4–1 victory.
Match Statistics: Italy Dominated Possession but Lacked End Product
Throughout the match:
Possession: Italy 60% – Norway 40%
Shots: Italy 15 (4 on target) – Norway 12 (5 on target)
Haaland: 2 shots, two goals, 100% conversion rate
Despite controlling the game, Italy struggled to contain Norway’s clinical finishing.
Norway Returns To The World Cup After 28 Years
With this victory, Norway extended their winning streak to eight matches and completed a double over Italy. They topped Group I to qualify directly for the World Cup.
This marks Norway’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, and they become the fifth team to secure their place, following England, France, Croatia, and Portugal.
Italy Drops to the Playoffs, Risk Missing a Third Straight World Cup
Italy finished second in the Group and will have to go through the playoffs. This raises concerns among fans and analysts who fear the Azzurri may miss the World Cup for a third consecutive edition after failing to qualify in both 2018 and 2022.
Elsewhere in Group I: Israel Defeat Moldova 4–1
In the other group match, Moldova were reduced to 10 men in the 18th minute, allowing Israel, playing at home with a numerical advantage, to secure a 4–1 win and end their three-match losing streak. Moldova concluded their qualifying campaign with a record of one draw and seven defeats.
