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Haaland Strikes Twice as Nordic Side Secures Direct Qualification; Italy Heads to Playoffs
Sports Desk, Milan: The final standings in Group I of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers are officially settled following the matches played on Sunday, November 16, 2025.. Italy, needing an almost impossible nine-goal margin of victory, instead suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of the Nordic side, who secure direct qualification.
Italy’s Impossible Mission at San Siro
Playing at the San Siro, the Italian national team entered the match with an all-but-unachievable task: beat Norway by nine goals to seize the top spot in Group I and qualify directly.
The night began with a glimmer of hope for Gennaro Gattuso’s side when young striker Pio Esposito (on loan from Inter Milan) opened the scoring in the 11th minute.
However, the second half delivered a dramatic shift. Antonio Nusa equalized for Norway in the 63rd minute, immediately restoring the near-impossible nine-goal gap. The situation spiraled for Italy as superstar striker Erling Haaland took full control in the closing stages.
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The Manchester City forward put Norway ahead in the 78th minute.
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Haaland doubled his tally just two minutes later (80th minute), sealing the 4–1 win and Norway’s qualification.
Israel Records Convincing Win at Temporary Home
In Sunday’s other Group I fixture, Israel defeated Moldova 4–1. Israel was playing the match in Chisinau due to restrictions preventing matches on home soil.
Moldova was hampered early when Sergiu Perciun received a straight red card for a penalty-area foul in the 18th minute. Dor Turgeman converted the resulting penalty in the 21st minute to give Israel the lead. Despite being reduced to ten men, Moldova briefly equalized through Ion Nicolaescu in the 37th minute.
Israel dominated the second half with goals from Roy Revivo (65th minute), Eliel Peretz (85th minute), and a late own goal by Vladyslav Baboglo (88th minute) to secure the 4-1 scoreline.
Final Group I Standings and World Cup Qualification
The results confirm the final positions in Group I:
| Rank | Team | Points | Status |
| 1 | Norway | 24 | Direct Qualification for 2026 World Cup |
| 2 | Italy | 18 | World Cup Playoff Stage |
| 3 | Israel | 15 | Eliminated |
| 4 | Estonia | 6 | Eliminated |
| 5 | Moldova | 3 | Eliminated |
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Norway finishes in first place and qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup, marking their first appearance in the finals in 28 years and fourth overall.
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Italy finishes second and will now enter the difficult World Cup playoff stage to fight for a spot in North America.
