Norway secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 4-1 victory over Italy at San Siro. Erling Haaland's two goals in the second half were crucial in turning the match around. Norway had
already been on the brink of qualification before this game, but they aimed to complete a flawless campaign.
The match began with Federico Dimarco missing an early opportunity for Italy, but he soon assisted Francesco Pio Esposito to open the scoring. Esposito skillfully converted Dimarco's cross past Orjan Nyland. Despite this setback, Norway intensified their efforts after halftime. Alexander Sorloth missed a couple of chances, but Antonio Nusa equalised with a stunning shot past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Haaland then took centre stage, scoring twice in quick succession. His first goal came from a volley that beat his Manchester City teammate Donnarumma. Just moments later, Haaland added another with a deft flick, marking his 16th goal of the qualifiers. Jorgen Strand Larsen completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Italy struggled to capitalise on their early lead and found themselves thwarted by Nyland's excellent saves against Dimarco and Esposito. With this defeat, Italy finished second in Group I, six points behind Norway, and will now face a play-off to secure their World Cup berth.
Defeat.#ITANOR #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/E5sKTmM2aG
- Italy (@Azzurri_En) November 16, 2025
Record-Breaking Qualifying Campaign for Norway
Norway's qualification journey has been remarkable, scoring 37 goals while conceding only five. Haaland has been instrumental, equalling Robert Lewandowski's record for most goals in a single European qualifying campaign with his tally of 16 goals.
In the second half against Italy, Norway turned things around dramatically after managing just one off-target shot in the first half. They ended up with 13 attempts compared to Italy's 15, showcasing their attacking prowess.
Norway now leads Group I with 24 points, having completed an impressive qualification run. Their performance sets them up as strong contenders for the upcoming World Cup.
