Norway Stuns Italy 4-1 to Qualify for 2026 World Cup

In a thrilling final match of Group I in the European qualifiers, Norway staged an incredible 4-1 comeback against Italy in what was a must-win encounter at the Stadio Olimpico. With this win, Norway secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finishing top of the group with a perfect record of 8 wins from 8 games.

Italy's Early Lead

The match began with Italy taking the initiative. Early in the first half, Federico Dimarco delivered a pinpoint cross to striker Sebastiano Esposito, who made no mistake in breaking the deadlock. Esposito’s goal gave the Italians a 1-0 lead, and for much of the first half, it seemed like the Azzurri would hold on to that advantage.

Norway’s Fightback

However, the second half saw a dramatic turnaround. Norway’s young star, Antonio Nusa, pulled one back with a brilliant individual effort, leveling the score at 1-1. As the game progressed, it was clear that the Norwegians were hungry for more.

The breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Erling Haaland, Norway’s talisman, scored twice in quick succession, taking advantage of some lackluster Italian defending. Haaland’s clinical finishing put Norway ahead 3-1, and the match seemed all but over.

As the clock ticked down, Norway’s Andreas Lønning Larsen sealed the victory with a powerful strike to make it 4-1, sending Norwegian fans into raptures as their team celebrated an historic qualification.

Norway’s Historic Return

With the win, Norway finished the group stage with 24 points, comfortably ahead of second-place Italy, who ended with 18 points. This marks Norway's return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 — a long 27-year wait. Their last appearance on the global stage came during the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, and their last appearance in any major tournament was the 2000 UEFA European Championship.

This will also be the first World Cup for both Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, who have been standout players throughout the qualifying campaign.

Italy's Struggles Continue

On the other hand, Italy’s World Cup dreams have been dashed once again. Despite a strong qualifying campaign, the 2006 champions will now have to face the reality of another playoff. This defeat ended their six-match winning streak and confirmed their third consecutive failure to secure automatic qualification for the tournament.

In the past two World Cup qualifying cycles, Italy has been forced into the playoffs, and on both occasions, they fell short, missing out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. This result will likely raise serious questions about Italy's current footballing crisis and their future in international competitions.

What’s Next?

Norway’s remarkable achievement is one of the standout stories of European qualification, with the team's resurgence led by their star forward, Haaland, and captain Ødegaard. As they prepare to make their way to North America for the 2026 World Cup, they will be hoping to make a deep run and build on the momentum they’ve generated in this successful campaign.

As for Italy, another playoff awaits, and with their World Cup future uncertain once again, the pressure is mounting on their squad and coaching staff to deliver when it matters most.

Norway: 4-1 Italy
Goals: Esposito (25'), Nusa (50'), Haaland (65', 70'), Larsen (85')