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Italy Battles Norway in Must-Win World Cup Qualifier at San Siro
16 Nov
Summary
- Italy sits 3 points behind Norway in group standings
- Norway boasts a superior goal difference of +29 to Italy's +12
- Italy has missed the last two World Cups and must beat Norway 9-0 or qualify through play-offs
On Sunday, November 19th, 2025, Italy will host Norway in a high-stakes FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the iconic San Siro stadium. The Azzurri currently sit second in their group, trailing the Scandinavian side by 3 points. Adding to Italy's woes, Norway also boasts a significantly better goal difference of +29 compared to Italy's +12.
Barring a catastrophic result against Italy, Norway has all but secured their place in next year's World Cup finals. The visitors have been imperious in this qualifying campaign, winning all 7 of their matches and scoring a whopping 33 goals while conceding just 4.
For Italy, the stakes could not be higher. The four-time World Cup champions have missed the last two editions of the tournament and now face the prospect of a third consecutive absence. To avoid this fate, they must beat Norway by at least 9-0 or qualify through the play-offs.
Under the guidance of coach Gennaro Gattuso, the Azzurri have shown signs of rejuvenation, winning all 5 of their games so far. However, they will need to be at their absolute best to overcome the formidable challenge posed by Norway and their star striker, Erling Haaland.
