Italy face World Cup playoff route after loss to Norway

ROME – Italy were thrashed 4-1 by Norway to ruin their hope of directly qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 2014. Instead, the Azzurri qualified for the playoffs, which will take place in March 2026.  

The odds were stacked from the start - Italy had to win the match 9-0 to move into first place and in their last meeting in June, Norway had beaten Italy. However, having only won under new coach Gennaro Gattuso, the Azzurri were hoping to keep their winning streak alive.

Italy started off strong, with Pio Esposito opening scoring in the 11^th minute with a strong strike. Italy continued to dominate the first half yet were unable to find the back of the net again.

The Azzurri’s fate changed dramatically in the second half. Antonio Nusa equalised for Norway in the 63^rd minute. Italy faltered from then on, with Erling Haaland scoring a brace within two minutes, thanks to goals in the 78^th and 79^th minutes. A goal in stoppage time sealed Italy’s fate, with Jorgen Strand Larsen scoring in the 93^rd minute. The match ended 1-4.

Italy will now have to face the dreaded playoff route, a route they have endured in the last two previous World Cup qualifiers. In both, they lost 1-0 to Sweden and North Macedonia respectively, to miss out on a World Cup appearance.

Italian manager, Gattuso, had hit out at the World Cup qualifying system ahead of the match with Norway, stating that Italy should qualify with 18 points as the team in second place with the most points, before criticising the fact that teams such as Paraguay, who finished 6 out of 7, still automatically qualify for the World Cup. Italy finished the qualifying campaign with more points that several other European teams that finished in first place and automatically qualified.