What Italy need to qualify for 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

Italy know that they are playing catch-up with both Norway and Israel in the 2026 World Cup qualifying group, so goal difference could be decisive.

The Azzurri started their qualifying campaign late because they were participating in the Nations League quarter-finals.

That gave Norway the opportunity to surge out front with a 100 per cent record from four games, while Israel have nine points from four matches.

The Nazionale lost 3-0 in Oslo, then beat Moldova and Estonia, putting them on six points from three fixtures.

How Italy can reach the 2026 World Cup

Italy’s standing in 2026 World Cup qualifying Group I

Only the 12 group winners go directly to the 2026 World Cup, while the 12 runners-up will enter the play-off stage, which is where Italy famously faltered in 2018 and 2022.

Only 16 European teams in total will participate in the tournament next summer, played in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Crucially, if sides finish level in the group, then the first criteria for separating them is goal difference, not the head to head record.

This is why scoring as many goals as possible is potentially crucial for the Nazionale.