Italy dramatically started the qualifying series for the 2026 World Cup on Friday. ‘La Squadra Azzurra’ couldn’t recover from a 3-0 halftime deficit against Norway. Belgium immediately dropped two points visiting North Macedonia.
Italy has missed the last two World Cups, while Norway could participate for the first time this century. Vedettes Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard’s team already bagged six points against Moldova and Israel in March.
And the Norwegians still have the maximum score after Italy’s visit. Luciano Spalletti’s team played a dismal first half in rainy Oslo and were already trailing 3-0 at halftime.
Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig) was the main man for the Norwegians. After fifteen minutes, he assisted former FC Groningen striker Alexander Sørloth’s 1-0 goal. He then blasted the 2-0 past newly crowned Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma himself.
Before halftime, the two big men showed themselves. Captain Ødegaard gave a through ball to Haaland, who outmaneuvered Donnarumma and scored the 3-0. The powerless visitors couldn’t change that deficit after halftime. Italy must now chase number two Israel, who won 1-3 visiting Estonia.
Belgium started the qualifying series with a disappointing 1-1 draw visiting North Macedonia. After just under half an hour, Maxim De Cuyper opened the score after getting a smothered shot from Romelu Lukaku at his left foot. The Belgians had escaped a deficit one minute earlier after a miss in front of an open goal by Ezgjan Alioski.
After halftime, the ‘Red Devils’ had more luck in Skopje. Bojan Ilievski touched a shot from Elif Elmas, passed Matz Sels, and seemed to score the 1-1. But the VAR determined after long deliberation that Ilievski was offside.
In the final phase, the home team still got their reward. Alioski made up for his mistake from before halftime and scored with a brilliant half overhead kick.
Wales won 3-0 against Liechtenstein and is currently the leader in Belgium’s group. In Pool L, the Czech Republic and Montenegro both had the maximum score prior to their mutual duel. That now only applies to the Czechs, who won 2-0 at home. At the same time, Croatia showed no mercy to Gibraltar: 0-7, partly thanks to a goal and two assists from PSV player Ivan Perisic.