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Italy Battles to 2-0 Win Over Moldova, But World Cup Dreams Face uphill Climb
Chisinau, Moldova – Italy secured a crucial, albeit labored, 2-0 victory against Moldova on Thursday evening, keeping their faint hopes of direct qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive. The win, however, does little to diminish Norway‘s strong position at the top of Group I.
This result marks Gennaro Gattuso’s fifth consecutive victory as assuming the role of head coach for the Nazionale. Italy now sits second in Group I with 18 points, trailing Norway by three points heading into their final qualifying match on Sunday at the San Siro.
Despite the upcoming clash against norway, Italy faces a significant hurdle. Even a win against the Scandinavians would likely only secure them a play-off spot. The decisive factor? Goal difference. Norway currently boasts a commanding +29 goal difference, dwarfing Italy’s +12.This substantial advantage means Italy would need a significant victory to overturn the deficit and claim automatic qualification.
The deadlock wasn’t broken until the 88th minute when Italian defender Gianluca Mancini found the back of the net.Adding to Moldova’s woes, promising young forward Francesco Pio Esposito sealed the victory with a goal in added time (90th + 2 minute), solidifying the scoreline at 2-0.
Prior to Mancini’s goal, Norway was on the verge of securing their first World Cup berth since 1998. Earlier on Thursday, Norway convincingly defeated Estonia 4-1, with a brace each from Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth.
Video credit: Eurosport
Looking Ahead: The stakes are incredibly high for Sunday’s match between Italy and Norway.While Italy will fight for every point, the reality is that their world Cup fate may well rest on navigating the play-offs. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, promises to be a landmark event, and Italy will be determined to participate, regardless of the path they must take.
What are your thoughts on Italy’s chances? Share your predictions in the comments below! Don’t forget to subscribe to World Today News for the latest updates on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and all the biggest stories in global football.
