Erling Haaland’s brace helped Norway beat Italy 4-1 in Rome to book their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the nation’s first qualification since 1998. Norway’s come-from-behind win, capped by two goals from Haaland in quick succession, completed a perfect group campaign and sent four-time champions Italy into the next play-off.
The result was significant for Norwegian football, ending a 28-year wait to return to world football’s grandest stage and showing the transformation of the team’s fortunes in recent years. Italy started out needing a remarkable nine-goal margin to top the group, but eventually finished six points behind Norway, failing to qualify directly for the third cycle in a row.
The game started with early Italian dominance as Francesco Pio Esposito put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute. Despite controlling possession and dictating the tempo for most of the first half, Italy were unable to convert their advantage into further goals before half-time. Norway, meanwhile, held firm and waited for an opportunity to respond.
Norway adjusted well after the break and showed more attacking intent and organization. Their revival was sparked in the 63rd minute when Antonio Nusa equalized to set up a dramatic final half hour. The momentum shifted as Norway found space against a tiring Italian backline, exposing defensive vulnerabilities that had been masked earlier in the match.
The decisive moments came in quick succession at the end of the second half. Erling Haaland made the difference with two goals in the 78th and 79th minutes to take his tally to 16 in the qualifying campaign. Haaland’s clinical finish effectively ended Italy’s hopes and all but sealed Norway’s qualification.
Norway’s performance was rounded off in stoppage time when J¸rgen Strand Larsen added a fourth.
ENGLAND, PORTUGAL QUALIFYING
England and Portugal also booked their places at the World Cup with wins over Albania and Armenia. Harry Kane’s second-half brace was enough for the Three Lions to complete a perfect qualifying campaign and book their place at next year’s event.
The win also meant that England became the first team to keep a clean sheet in all their matches en route to the World Cup. Portugal beat Armenia 9-1 thanks to hat-tricks from Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves.
Portugal played the match without Cristiano Ronaldo, who received a red card in the loss to Irelandhttps://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/cristiano-ronaldo-red-card-suspension-portugal-2026-world-cup-qualification-2819469-2025-11-14?utm_source=global-search&utm_medium=global_campaignsearchas Renato Veiga, Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao also found themselves on the scoresheet.
– The end
Published on:
November 17, 2025
