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Norway Close In on 2026 World Cup as Italy Squeaks Past Moldova, Play-offs Loom

The group’s goal-difference tiebreaker leaves direct qualification realistically out of reach for the Azzurri.

Overview

  • Norway beat Estonia 4-1 in Oslo, with Alexander Sorloth and Erling Haaland each scoring twice after a goalless first half.
  • Italy won 2-0 in Chisinau thanks to late headers from Gianluca Mancini on 88 minutes and Pio Esposito in stoppage time.
  • The results leave Norway virtually qualified, backed by a lopsided goal-difference advantage reported around +29 to Italy’s roughly +10.
  • Italy next hosts Norway on November 16 in Milan, then faces the play-off draw on November 20, with semi-finals on March 26 and finals on March 31.
  • Coach Rino Gattuso rotated and protected players on yellow-card warnings, planning to keep key options available for the likely March play-off path.