2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Norway Crush Italy, Belgium Stunned by North Macedonia

Italy endured a heavy 3-0 defeat against Norway on Friday in Oslo, marking a troubled beginning to their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying journey. The result raises early concerns for the four-time world champions, who have already missed out on the past two World Cup finals.

In a rain-soaked Ullevaal Stadium, Norway took full control in the opening 45 minutes. Goals from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa, and Erling Haaland left the Italian side reeling before the interval. The clinical finishing and attacking momentum from the hosts exposed significant gaps in Italy’s defense and midfield structure.

Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma expressed disappointment after the match, calling the performance unacceptable and stating that their supporters deserved better. He indicated that the team would need to reflect seriously on the outcome.

This victory leaves Norway at the top of Group I with a perfect nine points from their first three matches, following earlier wins against Moldova and Israel. Italy, who were engaged in UEFA Nations League action in March and missed those opening fixtures, now trail significantly and must recover quickly. Their next match is scheduled at home in Reggio Emilia, where they will face Moldova.

Mixed Results for Other European Contenders

Belgium’s qualification campaign in Group J began with a setback as they were held to a 1-1 draw by North Macedonia in Skopje. Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring for the visitors after capitalizing on a rebound from a blocked attempt by Romelu Lukaku. However, the hosts leveled late in the game through Ezgjan Alioski, who converted with a well-placed volley in the closing minutes.

The draw maintains North Macedonia’s unbeaten record through three matches, although they remain behind Wales, who top the group with seven points. Wales recorded a convincing 3-0 win against Liechtenstein in Cardiff, with Joe Rodon, Harry Wilson, and Kieffer Moore all finding the net. The team has remained undefeated since Craig Bellamy took charge last year and will travel to face Belgium in their next outing.

Croatia made a strong statement in their opening Group J match by defeating Gibraltar 7-0 in a one-sided contest held in the Algarve. Six of the goals came from different players, including two each from substitutes Franjo Ivanovic and Andrej Kramaric. Marco Pasalic, Ante Budimir, and Ivan Perisic also contributed to the goal tally.

In Group J, the Czech Republic leads the standings after securing a third consecutive win. Their latest result was a 2-0 home victory over Montenegro, with Adam Hlozek and Patrik Schick scoring for the hosts. Their consistency has established them as early group leaders, keeping them on course for direct qualification.

Under the format for the 2026 World Cup, which will feature an expanded field of 48 teams, the 12 group winners from European qualifying will secure automatic berths. The second-placed teams in each group will proceed to a play-off round to determine the remaining four European spots. With several matches still to play, teams across the continent are battling to position themselves for either automatic qualification or a second-chance route via the play-offs.