Norway Crush Italy to Reach World Cup, Azzurri Drop to Playoffs Again

Norway ended a long 27-year wait on Sunday by qualifying for the 2026 World Cup with a strong 4-1 win over Italy in Rome. The victory completed a perfect qualifying run — eight wins in eight games — and pushed Italy into the playoffs for the third time in a row.

Italy entered the match needing a nearly impossible nine-goal win because Norway had a much better goal difference. Still, the home team came out full of energy. In the 11th minute, Francesco Pio Esposito scored from close range, giving Italian fans hope for a big night.

Italy controlled most of the first half and came close to adding a second goal several times. Norway, on the other hand, struggled to get anything going. Their only real chance came when Antonio Nusa fired a shot over the bar. But after halftime, the game completely changed.

Nusa scored the equalizer in the 63rd minute with a calm left-foot shot inside the box. From that moment, Norway took control. And leaving Erling Haaland unmarked proved costly for Italy. In the 78th minute, Haaland volleyed in a cross to give Norway the lead. Just one minute later, he scored again, pushing his total to 16 goals in the qualifying campaign.

Italy looked shocked, and Norway kept pushing. In stoppage time, Jorgen Strand Larsen added the fourth goal, closing out a huge night for the visitors and proving they will be a dangerous team at next year’s World Cup.

Italy Back in Playoff Trouble

For Italy, this is another painful setback. Even before kickoff, the team and fans knew their chances were slim. But losing 4-1 at home made the situation even worse.

Italy already has a rough playoff history. In 2022, they were knocked out by North Macedonia. In 2018, they lost to Sweden. Now, they face another stressful playoff path for a World Cup spot.

Norway Celebrate a Dream Come True

For Norway, this moment means everything. It’s their first World Cup since 1998, and star midfielder Martin Ødegaard — out with an injury — said the team had been waiting for this moment for years.

“It is unreal,” Ødegaard told TV 2. “We have gone through so many setbacks, but we always believed. Now we finally made it, and with a perfect qualification. It’s huge.”

With Haaland leading the charge and a confident young squad, Norway heads into the 2026 World Cup looking stronger than ever.

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