Italy's World Cup Hopes Hinge on Injury Blow to Tonali and Calafiori

Injury setback ahead of Norway clash

An Italian press report published on Saturday confirms that Sandro Tonali and Riccardo Calafiori of the Italy national team have suffered injuries. The Azzurri are set to face Norway in the final round of European qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for Sunday.

According to Sky Italia, both Tonali and Calafiori will leave the Italian camp due to their injuries. Italy had previously defeated Moldova 2-0 in the ninth round, with Tonali playing the full match and Calafiori absent because of his issue.

Italy enters the decisive game needing to close a considerable gap as they trail the group leaders by 17 goals’ difference in some contexts, with Norway holding the initiative heading into the last round. The Nordic side have dominated the group, while Italy remains second, seeking a way through either a direct win or the playoff route.

Italy’s career in the qualifiers has been a rollercoaster, with a dramatic start that included a heavy defeat to Norway. The current momentum under new coaching has been positive, but injuries to Tonali and Calafiori cloud the final act of the campaign.

Italy's qualification outlook and coaching turn

With one match remaining, Italy would need a nine-goal victory over Norway to secure direct qualification for the 2026 finals, a scenario deemed highly unlikely. Norway appear set to take the top spot in Group 9, while Italy sits in second, leaving the playoff path as the most probable route to the World Cup.

Historically, Italy’s campaign began with a shock loss away to Norway, a result that sparked questions about the team’s leadership. After that setback, the federation planned a change in management, leading to the departure of coach Luciano Spalletti following the Moldova game and the appointment of Gennaro Gattuso as the new boss.

Gattuso has started his tenure with a striking run, including a 5-0 win over Estonia, a 5-4 win over Israel, a 3-1 victory against Estonia, another win against Israel, and a 2-0 win over Moldova — marking five straight wins under his leadership. He has become only the third coach in Italy’s history to win the first five games in charge, following Edmundo Fabrí and Azeglio Vicchini in earlier eras.

As things stand, Italy remains in second place in Group 9 with 18 points from seven games, three behind the leaders. The Italian federation, under President Gabriele Gravina, has steered a cautious but hopeful path toward the playoffs, with March’s playoff phase representing the last, best chance for a World Cup berth.

With the final qualifiers and playoff routes in view, the Azurri must prepare for a tough, high-stakes encounter against Norway, knowing that only a perfect result would rewrite the direct-qualification narrative. The playoff route remains in play, but the road to the World Cup is becoming a test of resilience rather than a simple sprint to the finish line.

What’s next for Italy?

The national team will now focus on the Norway match, assessing how to cope without Tonali and Calafiori while trying to preserve momentum and secure a path to Qatar 2026 via the playoffs — or, if fate grants a miracle, a giant-killing nine-goal feat on Sunday.