The Matchday 1 fixture of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers between Moldova and Norway will be held on March 22 at the Zimbru Stadium in Chisinau. Moldova vs. Norway: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Moldova National Team
Moldova had a poor performance in the previous World Cup qualifiers. Despite having opponents like the Faroe Islands in their group, the team finished last. They lost 9 matches and drew once. Moldova conceded 30 goals, with only three other teams in the European qualifiers having a worse record. However, last year, Sergey Kleshchenko's team managed to win their group in the Nations League, surpassing Malta and Andorra.
- Moldova conceded at least two goals in their last 5 World Cup qualifiers.
- At home, the team lost 6 of their last 7 World Cup qualifying matches (1 draw).
- In 5 of their last 7 home games in this tournament, the team failed to score against their opponents.
Predicted lineup for Moldova (4-5-1)
Cristian Avram – Oleg Reabciuk, Artur Crăciun, Veaceslav Posmac, Victor Mudrac – Vadim Rață, Artur Ioniță, Mihail Caimacov, Maxim Cojocaru, Nikita Moțpan – Ion Nicolaescu.
Norway National Team
The Scandinavians were close to reaching the finals in the last qualifiers, but they picked up only one point in the last two rounds and finished third. Overall, the team performed well, remaining unbeaten in 8 out of 10 matches (5 wins, 3 draws). Additionally, Norway kept a clean sheet in five matches. In their last official matches under Ståle Solbakken, they performed well in the Nations League, securing first place in Group B3.
- At least one opponent failed to score in 11 of Norway's last 14 World Cup qualifiers.
- In 6 of their last 8 World Cup qualifying matches, the team scored first.
- Norway conceded no more than one goal in 5 of their last 6 away matches in this tournament.
Predicted lineup for Norway (4-4-2)
Ørjan Nyland – Leo Østigård, Marcus Pedersen, Julian Ryerson, Andreas Hanche-Olsen – Morten Thorsby, Martin Ødegaard, Sander Berge, Aron Dønnum – Erling Haaland, Alexander Sørloth.
Forward Jørgen Strand Larsen was not called up due to a broken arm.
Referee
Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Matches – 11 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 50;
Average yellow cards per match – 4.5;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 26;
Penalties – 36%.
Moldova vs. Norway: Match Prediction
Since the last World Cup qualifying cycle, Moldova has significantly improved. They are no longer the team that suffered a series of defeats and allowed themselves to be easily beaten. In their last 20 official matches, Moldova lost only five times (10 wins, 5 draws), and only once did they lose by a large margin. At home, Sergey Kleshchenko's team is unbeaten in 8 official matches, taking points from teams like Poland and the Czech Republic, which are comparable to Norway in terms of level.
In the last World Cup qualifiers, Norway achieved only two big wins over Gibraltar (3-0, 5-1). Currently, the team's attack looks formidable on paper, but this doesn't always translate into the desired results: in their last 12 official away matches, Norway won only 4 times, two of which were by a minimal margin. Ståle Solbakken's team should beat Moldova on quality, but it is unlikely to be a rout.
My prediction: Moldova with a handicap (+2)
