Italy are now officially in the play-offs for the 2026 World Cup, as they must go through the semi-final and final in March 2026 to book their place in the tournament.
The Azzurri knew going into tonight’s match against Norway that nothing short of a 9-0 victory would suffice to overturn the huge gap in their goal difference, even with a win that would put them both on 21 points.
As it turns out, they lost 4-1 and were left six points adrift at the top of the group, as Norway won all 10 matches.
Italy must now prepare for World Cup play-offs
It means they are the runners-up in Group I, so Norway go directly to the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, whereas the Nazionale must book their spot via the play-offs.
The draw will be made on Thursday November 20, with Italy as top seeds.
They will have home advantage for the semi-final on March 26, with reports that will be organised at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo.
With victory there, the Nazionale would then face a draw to see whether the final is played at home or away on March 31.
This is the stage where the Azzurri stumbled in both 2018 and 2022, missing two consecutive editions of the World Cup.
5tart 5 inter players…..nearly 5 pears 😂😂😂
Looks like another World Cup without Italy
I 5ay this with total 5incerity.
Mattarella needs to 5tep up a5 pre5ident and withdraw us from international competition. There needs to be a full and complete re5et. Not a 5ingle of the5e players are good enough, and nor do they have the mentality to repre5ent the national team. Put a stop to the shambles and pull them out of the playoffs. Enough is enough.
Italy had this match all to do as if it was a final but failed miserably.
Rino shouldn’t have complained about going into the playoffs and how it was set up.
What chance have they got to qualify ??????????????????????????????
no point even qualifying. we will get pummeled in the group stage, nevermind if we eventually played against spain England or France. Italian football is finished until there are HUGE changes within the system
Italian defence will be better if Italy retire Bastoni, Di Marco, Di Lorenzo and Di Marco.
We need that Milan team. Oh wait Rosario…you guys SUCK!!! lol