Norway currently leads Group I, putting it in position to qualify directly to the World Cup, though there's a lot of time still left to go. Italy has yet to play a Group I match.

Italy begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Erling Haaland’s Norway with Sandro Tonali, Mateo Retegui and debutant Diego Coppola.It kicks off at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo at

Italy's World Cup qualification campaign has barely begun and already the country is worried about the shocking possibility of failing to reach the final tournament for a third consecutive time after a humiliating defeat by Norway.