Not played since 1998! Haaland’s Norway virtually set for 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Norway still cannot officially stamp its passport for the 2026 World Cup.

But the direct spot for the World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada as the leader of Group I in the European Qualifiers is virtually guaranteed.

Playing in Oslo, they beat Estonia 4-1 this Thursday (13th), reaching 21 points in seven games. Still at 100%. 

Italy has 15 and will visit Moldova soon, starting at 4:45 PM (Brasília time).

Italy is the favorite to reach 18 points before hosting Norway itself on Sunday (16th).

The "problem" for the Azzurri is the goal difference, the first tiebreaker criterion.

It was 16 in Norway’s favor before the round started. And now, it’s 19.

In other words: they need to beat Moldova—preferably by a large margin—and then thrash Haaland & Co. at San Siro to try to avoid the European playoffs.

Italy hasn’t played in a World Cup since the Brazil edition in 2014, when they repeated the group stage exit seen in South Africa.

No goals and favoritism confirmed

The first half was total Norwegian dominance, but without efficiency.

And Estonia even threatened on the counterattack. 

The second half came, and with it, the home team confirmed what was expected.

With an aerial show, Sorloth (50' and 52'), and then Haaland (56' and 60') scored.

Haaland has now reached 15 goals in the Qualifiers. He is increasingly the isolated top scorer.

Saarma pulled one back at 65'. Estonia reached its eighth and final game, ending its participation in the Qualifiers with four points. 

First World Cup of the MILLENNIUM for 🇳🇴

Currently ranked 29th in the FIFA Ranking, Norway is experiencing the best moment in its history thanks to the generation led by Haaland and Ødegaard, who is recovering from injury at Arsenal.

Sorloth (Atleti), Nusa (Leipzig), Bobb (City), Ryerson (Dortmund), and Schjelderup (Benfica) are some of the other standouts. 

The focus is to end the long drought without playing in a World Cup.

The third and last was in 1998. They fell in Group A and advanced in second place thanks to the historic triumph over Brazil’s national team by 2-1.

They would leave the World Cup in the round of 16, being defeated by Italy 1-0.

Italy is their ONLY executioner in World Cups.

Norway’s first World Cup was in 1938, which ended right in the first game with a 1-0 defeat to Italy.

The Azzurri would cross Norway’s path again in the United States in 1994.

After beating Mexico 1-0 in the first round of Group E, Norway lost to their executioner by the same score. And the 0-0 draw with Ireland sealed their elimination.

All teams finished with four points and a zero goal difference. What decided the three qualifiers was the number of goals scored.

Mexico (three goals), Ireland, and Italy (two each) advanced. 

Who can SECURE qualification today?

France and Portugal depend only on themselves. The French host Ukraine, while the Portuguese visit Ireland in Dublin. A win guarantees both in the World Cup and avoids the risk of playoffs.

In Concacaf, the penultimate round could confirm two qualifications. Jamaica needs to beat Trinidad and Tobago and hope for a Bermuda win over Curaçao to secure its place in the World Cup.

Honduras also depends on itself, but with an eye on the result of Costa Rica vs. Haiti: it needs to beat Nicaragua and hope for a draw in the other game.  

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 Marius Nordnes / Nordnes Foto - 2025 Getty Images