In a stunning turn of events, Norway has secured its place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking their first appearance in the tournament since 1998. The victory came after a decisive 4-1 win against Italy in their final group match. Erling Haaland's performance was instrumental, as he scored twice against the Azzurri.

The match, held on November 16, 2025, saw Italy needing a massive victory to secure their spot, but Norway proved too strong. Italy's Francesco Pio Esposito scored early, giving the home side a glimmer of hope. However, Norway roared back in the second half, with Nusa equalizing, followed by Haaland's brace and a final goal from Jørgen Strand Larsen. The final score condemned Italy to the playoffs for the third consecutive time.

For Norway, this qualification marks the end of a long wait and the definitive arrival of a golden generation. The team, led by Erling Haaland and supported by talents like Alexander Sorloth and Antonio Nusa, has shown they will be a force to reckon with in the World Cup. Their journey through the qualifiers was near-perfect, with eight wins out of their matches. This will be Norway's fourth World Cup appearance, after 1938, 1994, and 1998.

Italy, on the other hand, now faces the daunting prospect of the playoffs. Having missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, the pressure is immense for the Azzurri to qualify for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The team will need to overcome their playoff demons, after failing to qualify for the last two World Cups via this route. The draw for the playoffs is scheduled for November 20, 2025, with the matches to be played in March 2026. Italy will be a top seed and have home advantage for the semi-final.

The defeat has sparked debate about the fairness of the World Cup qualification process, with Italy's coach, Gennaro Gattuso, calling for a review of the system. He pointed to the increasing number of slots allocated to African teams and the disparity between European and South American qualification routes.

Other teams have also secured their places in the 2026 World Cup, including Portugal, who qualified with a 9-1 victory over Armenia. Bruno Fernandes and João Neves both scored hat-tricks in the match.

As the World Cup qualification draws to a close, the focus shifts to the playoffs, where teams like Italy will battle for their place in the tournament. The 2026 World Cup promises to be an exciting event, with new teams and formats adding to the anticipation.