Three first-half goals did the damage for the hosts, with Italy unable to make its mark in its first qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Norway started on the front foot, with Alexander Sorloth finding the breakthrough after just 14 minutes.

Alessandro Bastoni's long ball was cut out, and Antonio Nusa drove forward through midfield before siding a pass into Sorloth, who fired in from a tight angle from the left, where Gianluigi Donnarumma could not make the stop despite getting a touch on the ball.

Donnarumma denied Sorloth shortly after the half-hour mark, but just moments later, Nusa found a way through. After cutting inside from the left, he sent two Italy defenders crashing into each other before bending in a lovely strike.

Erling Haaland made it 3-0 just before the break. Played through by Martin Odegaard, the Manchester City striker rounded Donnarumma before slotting into an empty net.

Odegaard almost turned provider again in the second half, picking out Sander Berge, who smacked the left post with a powerful curler.

Italy's only shot on target came in stoppage time, as substitute Lorenzo Lucca rose to head an effort on goal, but Orjan Nyland held onto it at his near post.

Norway remains top of Group I with nine points, while Italy is fourth, but it has played two games fewer than its opponent.