Norway continued their dominant run in the UEFA Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 5–0 home victory over Israel. Despite missing two penalties, Erling Haaland bounced back in style with a hat-trick, leading his team to a sixth consecutive win and securing top spot in the group with 18 points.
Currently, Norway sit six points ahead of Italy (12 points) with a game in hand. They also hold a significant goal difference advantage of +26, putting them in a strong position to return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 1998 in France.
Despite their strong position, Haaland remained composed after the match, saying, “I don’t want to talk about qualification right now. I’m just focused on winning the next games.”
Haaland has scored in all six group matches, tallying 12 goals, six more than the nearest competitors. He also became the fastest player in history to reach 50 international goals, achieving the milestone in just 46 appearances, 25 fewer than Harry Kane.
Haaland Redeems Himself After Two Missed Penalties
Norway earned a penalty in the 6th minute, but Daniel Peretz saved Haaland’s shot. The goalkeeper was ruled to have moved early, resulting in a retake, which was again saved by the FC Bayern Munich loanee.
Undeterred, Haaland struck three times in the 27th, 63rd, and 72nd minutes to complete his hat-trick. Twenty-year-old Antonio Nusa provided two assists, showcasing his own rising talent.
Israeli Defence Collapses
Israel’s defence crumbled under pressure, conceding two own goals in the 18th and 28th minutes of the first half. They eventually suffered a heavy 0–5 defeat on the road.
Italy Keep the Pressure With Fourth Straight Win
Meanwhile, the Italian national football team earned their fourth straight win by beating the Estonian national football team 3–1 away from home. Since Gennaro Gattuso took over in June, Italy have won three matches, scoring 13 goals — setting a new record for this stage.
Moise Kean opened the scoring in the 4th minute, followed by Mateo Retegui in the 38th minute, making up for his earlier missed penalty. Sebastiano Esposito then scored his first international goal in the 74th minute.
A rare mistake from Gianluigi Donnarumma allowed Henri Anier to pull one back in the 76th minute, but Italy comfortably secured the victory.
Italy Eye Playoff Spot as Israel Clash Looms
With their chances of overtaking Norway slim, Gattuso made it clear that Italy will aim to beat Israel at home on October 15 to secure second place in the group and prepare for the playoffs.
As Norway’s 5–0 win strengthened their grip on the group lead, they took a crucial step toward returning to the World Cup. Meanwhile, Italy continue to build momentum, determined to book their ticket through the playoff path.
Whether Norway can maintain their form and seal their long-awaited return to the World Cup stage will be one of the biggest storylines in this UEFA qualification campaign.
