🙏 Italy hoping for a miracle: how the European qualifiers are shaping up

In partnership with

OneFootball

·16 November 2025

🙏 Italy hoping for a miracle: how the European qualifiers are shaping up

The European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup write a new chapter this Sunday, with five teams still fighting for two direct spots.

Undoubtedly, the spotlight will be on Italy, which would need to beat Norway by nine goals or more at San Siro to secure qualification. That doesn’t look likely to happen…

OneFootball Videos

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

🇳🇴 Norway leads Group I

Haaland’s Norway tops Group I with 21 points and an immaculate goal difference of +29, with 33 goals scored and only 4 conceded.

Italy has 18 points and a goal difference of +12. Their 3-0 defeat to the Norwegians in the opening match means the Azzurri must win with a historic rout in Milan to qualify directly for the World Cup.

Any other result sends Gennaro Gattuso’s team to the playoffs, a scenario that even the coach himself sees as more than likely.

Italy will play without Calafiori and Tonali, last-minute absences, but will be supported by a packed San Siro, with 60,000 tickets sold. On the other side, Norway is in great form and has the best attack in the Qualifiers. Erling Haaland, with 14 goals, is the star player.

This browser is not supported, please use a different one or install the app

🤔 What does each team need to secure their spot?

Group I

Norway – Secures the spot with a win, a draw, or even by losing by up to eight goals against Italy.
Italy – Needs a miracle: to win by nine goals or more.

Group F

Portugal – Qualifies directly if they beat Armenia. They can also go through with a draw, as long as Hungary doesn’t win by three goals or more. In case of defeat, they still have a chance if Hungary vs. Ireland ends in a draw or with an Irish victory (better goal difference).
Hungary – Needs to beat Ireland and hope for a Portugal defeat. If Portugal draws, Hungary advances with a win by three goals or more.
Ireland – Needs to beat Hungary and hope for a Portugal defeat (goal difference tiebreaker).

🙏 Who is dreaming of the playoffs?

In Group D, France is already qualified. The playoff spot will be contested between Ukraine and Iceland, who face each other in Poland. A draw is enough for Iceland, due to their better goal difference.

In Group K, everything is decided: England secured the direct spot and Albania, managed by Sylvinho, goes to the playoffs.