Norway Defeats Italy 3-0 to Lead World Cup Qualifiers

Norway delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Italy in their World Cup qualifying match, extending their flawless start to the 2026 tournament qualifiers. The Norwegian goals came in the first half, with Alexander Sorloth opening the scoring, followed by a brilliant strike from Antonio Nusa and a clinical finish by Erling Haaland. Norway dominated the game despite wet conditions, while Italy struggled offensively, managing only one shot on target late in the match and generating low expected goals. This loss marks Italy's second consecutive defeat in World Cup qualifiers, continuing their recent struggles after missing the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and highlighting their offensive shortcomings under coach Luciano Spalletti. Norway now leads Group I with nine points from three matches, while Italy sits fourth despite having played fewer games. The result underscores Norway's strong position in the group and Italy's urgent need to improve their performance to secure qualification in 2026.