Haaland brace flips San Siro upset after Esposito’s opener, Nusa and Strand Larsen seal statement victory as Italy await play-off draw
Norway secured direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 comeback victory over Italy at San Siro, ending a 28-year wait for the finals and capping a flawless qualifying campaign. Italy, who have missed the last two World Cups, finish second in the group and must navigate the European play-offs to avoid a third consecutive absence.
Francesco Pio Esposito gave Gennaro Gattuso’s side an early lead on 11 minutes, but Ståle Solbakken’s team flipped the game after the interval with four unanswered goals. Antonio Nusa equalized just after the hour, Erling Haaland struck twice in rapid succession to make it 3-1, and Jørgen Strand Larsen added a stoppage-time fourth to complete a signature away win.
Haaland finished qualifying with 16 goals in eight matches, double the tally of Europe’s next-highest scorers, underlining a campaign that also featured heavy wins over Moldova and Israel to build a dominant goal difference. The Manchester City striker’s brace in Milan took his national total to 55 in 48 caps and confirmed his first appearance at a major international tournament.
Norway’s emergence extends beyond its star No. 9, with a young core led by captain Martin Ødegaard and rising attackers like Nusa and Oscar Bobb forming one of Europe’s most dynamic squads under Solbakken. The Norwegians completed qualifying with a perfect record and a goal difference of +32, reflecting both ruthless attacking depth and a well-drilled structure.
Italy now move to the UEFA play-offs, where they are seeded in Pot 1 for a single-leg semi-final on March 26, followed by a single-leg final on March 31 if they advance. Potential semi-final opponents include Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland, with the draw scheduled for November 20 at 13:00 CET.
The result in Milan deepens scrutiny on the Azzurri after a campaign that began with a 3-0 loss to Norway and never fully recovered, despite a mid-cycle coaching change and improved scoring output under Gattuso. With the World Cup returning to North America in 2026, Italy’s route will hinge on solving defensive frailties exposed by Norway’s second-half surge and executing in two high‑pressure knockout ties next spring.
