World Cup 2026: Norway beats Italy in qualification

Norway has once again increased the German national football team's chances of securing the top spot in the group draw for the 2026 World Cup with a decisive victory against Italy. With superstar Erling Haaland's team's 3-0 (3-0) victory against the Squadra Azzurra in World Cup qualifiers, the DFB team, ranked tenth in the world, can close the gap to ninth-place Italy in Sunday's Nations League match against France for third place.

Only the top nine teams in the FIFA world rankings, which are decisive for the seeding process, will be in pot one next year; otherwise, there is a risk of tough matches against Argentina, Spain or France in the group phase.

However, Italy is in danger of failing to qualify again, following their 2018 and 2022 defeats. Only the group winner is guaranteed a ticket to the 2026 World Cup, while the runner-up must advance to the playoffs. Coach Luciano Spalletti's team suffered a complete failure in their opening match in Oslo. Norway, on the other hand, with nine points after three matches in Group I, has a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.

Former Leipzig player Alexander Sorloth beat Italy's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain after just 14 minutes. Current Leipzig player Antonio Nusa also left the star goalkeeper with no chance 20 minutes later with a powerful shot under the bar. Haaland duped the overwhelmed Italian defense with his goal to make it 3-0 shortly before halftime.

Belgium also slipped up in World Cup qualifying. Coach Rudi Garcia's team could only manage a 1-1 draw (1-0) in North Macedonia. Maxim De Cuyper scored for Belgium in the 28th minute, and Ezgjan Alioski equalized in the closing stages in Skopje (86th).

Croatia celebrated a convincing 7-0 (2-0) victory against Gibraltar. Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramarić scored twice for the 2018 World Cup runners-up (77th and 80th minutes). The Czech Republic had a much tougher time in their 2-0 (1-0) victory against Montenegro. Bundesliga pros Adam Hložek (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim/23rd minute) and Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen/65th minute) scored the goals in Pilsen.

RND/dpa