Odegaard shares his excitement as Norway clinch spot at 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Norway secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup this Sunday (16), by thrashing Italy 4-1 in Milan, with two more goals from top scorer Erling Haaland.

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With this result, the Italian team, which missed the last two World Cups, will have to compete in the playoffs.

The Norwegians, who haven't been to the World Cup since 1998, finished at the top of Group I in the European Qualifiers with 24 points, six more than the ‘Azzurra’.

“It's indescribable. Absolutely insane. The way we did it is incredible. It's something huge,” said midfielder Martin Odegaard after the qualification.

How the game went

Francesco Pio Esposito opened the scoring for the Italians at 11 minutes, making the fans dream in San Siro.

The hosts went into the break ahead, but Antonio Nusa equalized at the start of the second half (63′), until Haaland showed his most lethal version.

In just two minutes, the Manchester City striker found the net twice (78′ and 80′) and dashed the hopes of the four-time world champions.

Haaland finished the Qualifiers with 16 goals, averaging two per match. This season, with City, he has scored 22 goals in 19 games.

In injury time, Jorgen Strand Larsen (90’+3) added another and sealed Norway's rout.

In the other group match, with both teams already eliminated, Israel also thrashed Moldova 4-1.

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