Norway 3-0 Italy: Still-perfect Landslaget clobbers Italians in Oslo

Norway’s emphatic start to 2026 World Cup qualifying has now left Italy in its wake, as the Norwegians flattened the Italians 3-0 in Oslo to move closer to ending their near-three-decade wait for a return to the World Cup.

Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa, and Erling Haaland all put the ball past Gianluigi Donnarumma before halftime as Norway’s score line matches their Group I record and sent Italy to a losing start to their qualifying campaign.

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It won’t leave Italy in a good place, as coach Luciano Spalletti is bidding to get the Azzurri to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years and is 0-1 after turning 62% possession into a measly 0.16 xG.

Nusa, who also had an assist, led the way while Sander Berge and Martin Odegaard were part of a terrific midfield display. They’ll meet Estonia in Tallinn on Monday, when Italy looks to right its ship at home to Moldova.

See the video highlights below.

How to watch Norway vs Italy live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 2:45 pm ET Friday (June 6)
Venue: Ullevaal Stadion — Oslo, Norway
How to watch, TV channel: Fox Sports

Norway vs Italy live updates — by Nick Mendola

Norway vs Italy final score: 3-0

Alexander Sorloth 14', Antonio Nusa 34', Erling Haaland 42'

Erling Haaland goal — Norway 3-0 Italy (42nd minute)

There’s the combo we expected to produce a goal, as Arsenal’s Martin Odegaard has assisted Erling Haaland and it’s three-nil!!

Haaland curates his run to stay onside then makes Donnarumma look silly — he’s not having a good day — with an electric 1v1 move.

The Norwegians have just 34% possession but are out-attempting the Italians 7-1 and leading in a big way.

Antonio Nusa goal — Norway 2-0 Italy (34th minute)

Now he’s got a goal to go with his assist.

Nusa, the young RB Leipzig star, takes the ball off teammate Morten Thorsby after a long goal kick, and slots home.

Italy bossing the ball, trailing in Oslo

Italy have about 70%-possession and there’s almost a half-hour gone, but Luciano Spalletti’s men have managed just a single shot attempt and trail on Sorloth’s goal.

Alexander Sorloth goal — Norway 1-0 Italy (14th minute)

AZ Alkmaar left back David Moller Wolfe picks up an Italy pass and is off the other way, sending the ball to Antonio Nusa.

The 20-year-old fires a pass for Sorloth, and the Atletico Madrid man does the rest with a shot to Gigi Donnarumma’s near post.

His sizzling club form has gone from club to country.

Norway lineup

Nyland, Moller Wolfe, Heggem, Ajer, Ryerson, Nusa, Thorsby, Berge, Odegaard, Sorloth, Haaland

Italy lineup

Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Coppola, Bastoni, Zappacosta, Barella, Rovella, Tonali, Udogie, Raspadori, Retegui

Norway vs Italy preview — by Andy Edwards

Norway are already top of Group I with six points after two games, while Italy are yet to play a qualifier due to reaching the quarterfinals of the UEFA Nations League back in March when they bowed out to Germany, 5-4 over two legs. After failing to get out of the group stage in back-to-back World Cups (2010 and 2014, after champions in 2006), the Azzurri have regressed even further by failing to even reach the final tournament in 2018 and 2022. They did, of course, use those qualifying failures to bookend the European Championship trophy at EURO 2020, but Luciano Spalletti’s mandate is clear: return Italy to the world’s biggest stage.

2026 is an equally unmissable target for Norway as it is Italy, with Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard trying to lead their country to its first World Cup appearance since 1998 and just their fourth all time. Norway won promotion to the top tier of the Nations League back in November, so the Røde, Hvite, Blå (Red, White and Blue) are clearly gaining ground on the rest of the continent and should be expected, at minimum, to finish top-two in the group and reach the playoff round. A massive, almost must-win for Italy in game no. 1, and an incredible opportunity for Norway to continue their dominant start (+7 goal difference) and take charge with a win.

Norway team news, focus

OUT: Erik Botheim (broken leg), Stian Gregeren (hip)

Italy team news, focus

OUT: Manuel Locatelli (ankle), Matteo Gabbia (calf)

Norway vs Italy prediction

Norway’s size and physicality will give Italy lots of problems, especially early on so don’t be surprised to see the hosts ahead at halftime before the visitors make a second-half comeback. Norway 2-2 Italy.