Most major nations have already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup. Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain all cruised through the qualifiers without major surprises.
But while the giants celebrated, Italy slipped into real danger.
A powerful performance from Erling Haaland and Norway pushed the Azzurri to the edge, turning their qualifying path into a serious challenge. Italy is not out yet, but the pressure is growing, and every remaining match now feels like a final.
After missing the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, Italian fans fear a repeat scenario—while others wonder if Haaland might be the one who ruins Italy’s chances again.
The giants are safe.
Italy isn’t.
And the race to 2026 just got a lot more dramatic