Norway, on the brink of ending a historic drought

It’s been 28 years since Norway last played a World Cup (France 1998). With Haaland in full maturity and Ødegaard orchestrating the midfield, the Scandinavian side now has its clearest path in decades to return to football’s biggest stage. Everything could be decided tonight, on the final matchday of the FIFA window.

What does Norway need to qualify for the 2026 World Cup today?

Norway leads Group I and fully controls its destiny. To secure qualification TODAY, the “Vikings” need two things:

• Beat Estonia
• Italy must fail to defeat Moldova

If both results happen, Norway will clinch their ticket to United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026.
Ståle Solbakken’s squad arrives with a strong goal difference and solid form, backed by Erling Haaland’s scoring power and Martin Ødegaard’s creativity.

If Italy wins… a final for everything

If Italy does beat Moldova, the group will come down to a true final:
🗓 Norway vs. Italy — November 16

• Norway only needs a draw to secure first place and qualify directly.
• Italy must win to steal the ticket.

It will be a high-tension showdown — the Nordics relying on their attacking strength, the Italians pushing for a dramatic finish.

The playoff route: a lifeline if things get complicated

Even if the scenario tightens, Norway still has a realistic alternative:

• Finishing second sends them straight to the European Playoff.
• They can also qualify for the playoff via the Nations League, thanks to their competitive ranking and previous group results.

This means that even with setbacks, Norway would not be eliminated — they would still have multiple chances to reach the World Cup.

A nation dares to dream

With Haaland in full predator mode and Ødegaard commanding the midfield, Norway has everything needed to return to the stage they’ve been absent from for far too long. The ticket is within reach — only one final step remains.