Italy opens World Cup qualifying campaign against Norway
Italy will begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying journey with an away fixture against Norway at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo. The match kicks off Friday, June 6, at 19:45 UK time (18:45 GMT, 20:45 CET).
The Azzurri enter Group I alongside Norway, Moldova, Estonia, and Israel. While this marks Italy’s first match of the campaign, Norway have already played and won two fixtures, defeating Moldova 5-0 and Israel 4-2, to top the group standings.
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Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti faces multiple squad challenges due to injuries. Moise Kean, Alessandro Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori, and Matteo Gabbia are among the players ruled out. Inter defender Francesco Acerbi declined the international call-up. As a result, 20-year-old Hellas Verona center-back Diego Coppola will make his senior debut.
Spalletti is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation. Sandro Tonali and Giacomo Raspadori will play behind central striker Mateo Retegui. Atalanta full-back Davide Zappacosta returns to the national side for the first time since 2018, while Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie replaces the unfit Federico Dimarco on the opposite flank.
Norway fields full-strength side led by Haaland and Odegaard
Norway, already leading Group I, will field a full-strength lineup featuring Manchester City forward Erling Haaland and Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard. Haaland enters the match with 40 goals in 41 international appearances. At the club level, he scored 31 goals across 44 matches for Manchester City this season.
Norway’s starting XI includes goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland; defenders Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, and Leo Heggem; and midfielders Sander Berge, Morten Thorsby, and Antonio Nusa. Genoa midfielder Thorsby and Torino winger Marcus Pedersen represent Norway’s Serie A presence.
The match will be officiated by Maria Sanchez from Spain.
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Confirmed line-ups for Norway vs. Italy
Norway Starting XI: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Thorsby, Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland
Norway Bench: Dyngeland, Selvik, Ostigard, Berg, Larsen, Gundersen, Pedersen, Aasgaard, Donnum, Schjelderup, Bobb, Johnsen
Italy Starting XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Coppola, Bastoni; Zappacosta, Barella, Rovella, Udogie; Raspadori, Tonali; Retegui
Italy Bench: Meret, Carnesecchi, Dimarco, Gatti, Ricci, Orsolini, Casadei, Rugani, Frattesi, Lucca, Ranieri, Cambiaso
Also read: Paraguay vs Uruguay lineups confirmed for 2026 World Cup qualifier at Defensores del Chaco
Italy will look to secure early momentum in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, while Norway aims to continue their winning start and strengthen their lead at the top of Group I.
Italy will begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying journey with an away fixture against Norway at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo. The match kicks off Friday, June 6, at 19:45 UK time (18:45 GMT, 20:45 CET).
The Azzurri enter Group I alongside Norway, Moldova, Estonia, and Israel. While this marks Italy’s first match of the campaign, Norway have already played and won two fixtures, defeating Moldova 5-0 and Israel 4-2, to top the group standings.
Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers: Jordan, Uzbekistan make history
Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti faces multiple squad challenges due to injuries. Moise Kean, Alessandro Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori, and Matteo Gabbia are among the players ruled out. Inter defender Francesco Acerbi declined the international call-up. As a result, 20-year-old Hellas Verona center-back Diego Coppola will make his senior debut.
Spalletti is expected to deploy a 3-4-2-1 formation. Sandro Tonali and Giacomo Raspadori will play behind central striker Mateo Retegui. Atalanta full-back Davide Zappacosta returns to the national side for the first time since 2018, while Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie replaces the unfit Federico Dimarco on the opposite flank.
Norway fields full-strength side led by Haaland and Odegaard
Norway, already leading Group I, will field a full-strength lineup featuring Manchester City forward Erling Haaland and Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard. Haaland enters the match with 40 goals in 41 international appearances. At the club level, he scored 31 goals across 44 matches for Manchester City this season.
Norway’s starting XI includes goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland; defenders Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, and Leo Heggem; and midfielders Sander Berge, Morten Thorsby, and Antonio Nusa. Genoa midfielder Thorsby and Torino winger Marcus Pedersen represent Norway’s Serie A presence.
The match will be officiated by Maria Sanchez from Spain.
Also read: What the Trump travel ban means for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games
Confirmed line-ups for Norway vs. Italy
Norway Starting XI: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Thorsby, Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland
Norway Bench: Dyngeland, Selvik, Ostigard, Berg, Larsen, Gundersen, Pedersen, Aasgaard, Donnum, Schjelderup, Bobb, Johnsen
Italy Starting XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Coppola, Bastoni; Zappacosta, Barella, Rovella, Udogie; Raspadori, Tonali; Retegui
Italy Bench: Meret, Carnesecchi, Dimarco, Gatti, Ricci, Orsolini, Casadei, Rugani, Frattesi, Lucca, Ranieri, Cambiaso
Also read: Paraguay vs Uruguay lineups confirmed for 2026 World Cup qualifier at Defensores del Chaco
Italy will look to secure early momentum in their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, while Norway aims to continue their winning start and strengthen their lead at the top of Group I.
