World Cup qualifiers 2026: Norway-Italy, the likely lineups
At the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Italy plays the first match of the qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup against hosts Norway.
The Azzurri, as Luciano Spalletti knows, have not played a World Cup since 2014, the Scandinavians since 1998.
Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri, as everyone knows, have not played an edition of the World Cup since 2014, the Scandinavians since 1998, but both national teams are candidates for first place in Group I, which also includes Estonia, Israel and Moldova.
Italy and Norway have played against each other 17 games with 10 wins for the Azzurri, four draws and three victories for the Norwegians. The last one was on Oct. 13, 2015, when Italy at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome won a European Championship qualifying match 2-1, goals by Tettey in the 23rd minute, Florenzi in the 73rd minute and Pellè in the 82nd minute, the coach was Antonio Conte.
The Norway and Italy have played against each other in 17 matches.
The likely lineups
NORWAY (4-4-2): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Ostigard, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg, Schjelderup; Haaland, Sorloth. Ct.: Solbakken.
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ITALY (3-5-1-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Gatti, Bastoni; Cambiaso, Barella, Ricci, Tonali, Udogie; Raspadori; Retegui. Ct.: Spalletti.
