The Italian national team finds itself playing catch-up against Norway and Israel in their 2026 World Cup qualifying group, where goal difference could prove decisive.
The Azzurri commenced their qualification journey later than other teams, a consequence of their involvement in the Nations League quarter-finals.
This delayed start allowed Norway to establish a strong lead, maintaining a perfect record after four matches, while Israel accumulated nine points from their four fixtures.
After suffering a 3-0 loss to Norway in Oslo, the Nazionale recovered by securing wins against Moldova and Estonia, bringing their total to six points from three games.
Qualification Scenarios for Italy in 2026
Direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup is reserved for the 12 group winners. The 12 runners-up will proceed to the play-off rounds, a stage that has historically proven challenging for Italy, leading to their absence from the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
The expanded 2026 World Cup, hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will feature a total of 16 European participants.
A crucial detail for tie-breaking scenarios is that if teams finish with equal points, goal difference will be the primary criterion, superseding head-to-head results.
This rule underscores the importance for the Nazionale to score as many goals as possible throughout their campaign.
