Overview
- Alexander Sorloth scored twice in the 50th and 52nd minutes and Erling Haaland added goals in the 56th and 62nd as Norway beat Estonia 4-1 in Oslo.
- Norway now holds a six-point advantage over Italy with a +19 goal difference, making the group’s final-day meeting in Milan largely academic for direct qualification.
- Italy must win in the Republic of Moldova this evening to keep only a theoretical chance of first place alive given the goal-difference gap.
- If Italy finish second they enter March 2026 playoffs, with 16 teams competing in four mini-tournaments for four World Cup berths and the draw set for 20 November in Zurich.
- Under Gennaro Gattuso Italy have four straight qualifying wins and 16 goals, though he cautioned against complacency and noted Federico Chiesa declined a call-up.