Over 56,000 tickets sold for Italy vs. Norway, despite slender hope of success | OneFootball

Italy have very little hope of securing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, but over 56,000 have already bought tickets for the showdown with Norway.

It kicks off at San Siro on Sunday November 11, following Thursday’s match away to Moldova.

Fans are flooding to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan to be present for the event, with over 56,000 tickets sold for the big game.

Why Italy don’t believe in first place

BERGAMO – SEPTEMBER 05: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy during the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

The Azzurri lost 3-0 in Oslo back on June 6, a result that prompted the dismissal of coach Luciano Spalletti.

Although Italy have won every single match since then in this group, the same is true of Norway, who have a 100 per cent record in qualifying.

If this continues and Italy also beat Norway, then both teams will be stuck together at the top on 21 points.

BELGRADE, SERBIA – JUNE 02: Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates after victory in the UEFA Nations League League B Group 4 match between Serbia and Norway at Stadion Rajko Mitić on June 02, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

At this point, UEFA separates the sides by overall goal difference first, so the Nazionale’s odds of bridging that gap are astronomical.

Going into the final two games, Norway have a goal difference of +26 compared to Italy’s +10.

Quite a lot of that is thanks to the 11-1 victory against Moldova on September 9.

Gennaro Gattuso’s only hope therefore is that Norway drop points at home to Estonia on November 13, while the Azzurri manage to win away to Moldova too.

If not, then they are guaranteed for a play-off spot.