Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers match.
Norway have received a notable boost ahead of their clash with Italy, as there is no clear favourite going into the contest. Norway have made a promising start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, although Italy, even amid a transitional phase, are still regarded as slightly more likely to secure a positive result.
Norway
Last autumn, Norway showcased their potential by earning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, despite some inconsistencies during their B League campaign. For example, the squad dropped points in a goalless draw away to Kazakhstan (0:0) and suffered a heavy 1:5 defeat against Austria. Their qualifying campaign began with expected wins over Moldova (5:0) and Israel (4:2). However, key players such as Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland came off underwhelming club seasons, with neither claiming any trophies.
Italy
At last year's European Championship, Italy progressed from the group stage but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland (0:2). Since then, Italy have made clear strides, reintroducing a three-man central defence. Across eight Nations League matches, the squad scored 17 goals. One particularly notable performance came in Dortmund against Germany, where the team fought back from a 0:3 half-time deficit to earn a 3:3 draw, with the Italian side showing commendable resilience.
Norway vs Italy Prediction
The most recent encounters between Norway and Italy took place during the Euro 2016 qualifiers, both of which ended in victories for Italy (2:0 and 2:1). Based on current form and squad depth, the visitors are favoured; a reliable handicap (0) bet on them presents a sound alternative.
