Haaland's Unstoppable Run: Norway Lock World Cup 2026 Spot, Italy Left in the Rearview

Haaland's World Cup Dream: Norway's Unstoppable Run

Norway's star forward Erling Haaland, the Manchester City ace, propelled his nation back into World Cup contention for 2026 in North America, after a standout qualifying campaign that showcased extraordinary scoring form.

Drawn in Group 9 with Italy, Estonia, Moldova, and Israel, Norway faced what many viewed as Italy’s likely path to qualification. Still, expectations proved wide of the mark as the Italians faltered and Norway surged in the European qualifiers.

Norway delivered a historic campaign in Europe, putting together a sequence of impressive results and remaining undefeated across eight matches for a perfect run that sealed their place at the global showpiece.

Despite Italy’s reputation, Haaland and his teammates delivered a resounding statement by defeating the Italians in both legs, collecting a 7-1 aggregate scoreline across the two fixtures.

In terms of goals, Norway struck 37 times in eight matches, averaging 4.6 per game, the most prolific rate in the qualifying rounds, while yielding just five goals at the other end.

Stardust in Attack

Haaland dominated the scoring, contributing in eight starting appearances and tallying 16 goals with two decisive assists, underscoring why he is widely regarded as one of the most lethal finishers in world football.

Across the campaign, Haaland’s goal tally outmatched many entire nations, with Germany on 10 goals in five games and Poland on 11, while several others trailed behind his output. His numbers echoed his sheer influence across every contest.

Remarkably, the 194-cm striker registered 41 shots in eight games, with 28 hitting the target, and he excelled in aerial duels by winning 23 of 33 contests, a 69.7% success rate in that facet alone.

In a season still unfolding, Haaland has maintained a remarkable strike rate, having netted 32 goals for club and country by the midpoint, and he has reached 55 goals in 48 caps for Norway, revitalizing their World Cup dream since their last appearance in 1998.

He extended his record by accomplishing goals in 11 consecutive qualifying matches, underscoring his critical role in Norway’s march to the finals.

Italian Setback

Italy faced a near-impossible task of overturning a nine-goal difference for direct qualification, a challenge they ultimately could not surmount, losing 4-1 at San Siro after an early lead gave way to a crushing end to the campaign.

Italy started brightly with an early goal from Francesco Esposito after 11 minutes, but Norway responded in kind and equalized in the 63rd minute through Antonio Nusa. Haaland then struck twice in rapid succession (78th and 79th minutes), with Ståle Larsen adding a late fourth for a memorable away win amid intense pressure on Italian soil.

With the result, Norway finished the qualifiers undefeated, eight wins and 24 points, while Italy ended second with 18 points and entered the European playoff route for a chance to reach the World Cup via additional ties in March.

Italy’s recent struggles since missing out on Russia 2018 and losing again in 2022 continued to haunt the Azzurri, leaving them facing a playoff journey rather than direct qualification.

Donnarumma Speaks

In post-match remarks, Gianluigi Donnarumma reflected on the match, stressing the need to avoid conceding goals and to maintain focus for the full 95 minutes rather than a partial effort—insisting that more consistency and confidence must come from within the squad and under their coach’s guidance.

He also conveyed a message to the fans: the team was disappointed, apologetic, and relies on their backing in March to stay united and push through the playoff rounds, as the supporters’ energy remains vital to the rebuilding effort.

What’s Next

The playoff draw was scheduled for November 20 to determine Italy’s route to the finals, a process that promises drama as Europe’s second-tier contenders fight for a coveted ticket to the World Cup in 2026. Norway, by contrast, have earned a deserved rest of the moment and a celebrations-heavy march toward the tournament.

Note: Real life football rarely plays out like a tidy script; sometimes heroes become legends in a single evening, and sometimes even legends need a good nap after such a display.

Punchlines

1) Haaland hits the net so often that even the goalposts filed a complaint for excessive use. 2) My jokes about football? They’re on par with a Haaland shot—swift, precise, and most likely to hit the back of the net of your expectations.