Norway would have had to have lost to Italy by nine goals to be pipped to automatic qualification, but won 4-1 in Milan on Sunday night.

The Manchester City striker hits 16 goals in an astonishing qualifying campaignErling Haaland scores 16 goals to send Norway to 2026 World Cup — full UEFA top scorers listErling Haaland has

Erling Haaland and Co. have sealed their spot at 2026 World Cup after a perfect qualifying campaign, as Norway are genuine dark horses for the tournament.

Italy requires a minor miracle if it’s to bag automatic qualification to the 2026 World Cup on Sunday when it travels to the San Siro to take on Italy. Erling Haaland and company have enjoyed a seamless run through UEFA qualifying thus far and sit atop Group I, three points ahead of Italy and with a far superior goal difference.

England, which has so far won all seven matches of the qualifying tournament, officially punched its ticket after a 5-0 victory over Latvia on Oct. 14. France and Croatia then joined in mid-November, followed by Norway and Portugal on Nov. 16 and Germany and the Netherlands on Nov. 17.

One of the biggest weeks in Norwegian soccer for a generation risks being tarnished by the admission from a leading player that he is likely to be convicted of sharing an illegal video.

Unnerved by the Ukraine war and U.S. President Donald Trump's whiplash statements on defending Europe, Norway could allow its $2.1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest, to invest in major defence companies from 2027 after a more than 20-year hiatus.

Italian journalist Paolo Condo heaped praise on Italy star Francesco Pio Esposito following a morale-wracking 4-1 loss to Norway.Condo waxed lyrical about the Inter Milan prodigy in his latest