Azzurri Face Nightmare of Third Straight World Cup Miss as Haaland Masterclass Leaves Italy on the Brink
Italy’s 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes are hanging after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Norway in front of their home crowd, a result that confirmed Norway’s qualification and pushed the Azzurri into the high-stakes UEFA playoffs, threading the same routes they used and miss the last two World Cups.
Francesco Esposito had briefly lifted Italian spirits when he fired home the opener, giving fans a flash of belief that the night would belong to them. But Norway, who entered the match with a superior goal difference and only needed to avoid a catastrophic loss, responded with ruthless authority.
Antonio Nusa struck the equalizer that shifted the momentum entirely, and then Erling Haaland took over. The Manchester City superstar delivered yet another master performance on the international stage, scoring twice to take his tally to an astonishing 16 goals in the European qualifiers for the World Cup. Jørgen Strand Larsen sealed Italy’s misery with a late fourth, as the Azzurri capitulated in astonishing fashion.
For Italy, the result is more than just a defeat, it is a haunting reminder of a decade-long decline. Having missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and crashed out of their last two appearances in 2010 and 2014 at the group stage, the four-time world champions now face the terrifying prospect of failing to reach the World Cup for a third consecutive time.
With their ticket to USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 now dependent on surviving the drama-filled UEFA playoffs, Italy’s proud footballing identity is on the line. Another failure would plunge the Azzurri into an unprecedented crisis and tonight’s performance has left the nation wondering whether history is about to repeat itself once more.