Italy‘s World Cup Playoff Hopes-and Seeding-Hang on Norway Match
Milan, Italy – Italy’s crucial World Cup qualifying match against Norway on Sunday, November 16th, carries implications beyond direct qualification for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. A win could secure a more favorable draw for the Azzurri should they advance through the playoff stage, potentially avoiding a challenging “group of death.”
FIFA is reportedly considering a notable change to its World Cup draw procedure, potentially allocating the top nine ranked teams-currently including Italy-to the first seeding pot. This is a shift from the current system which reserves the top four spots. This change would be a boon for nations like Italy, currently ninth in the FIFA rankings with 1717.15 points, who might otherwise be relegated to the fourth pot alongside teams qualifying through playoffs.Germany,currently tenth with 1713.3 points and also facing a potential playoff battle, is closely trailing Italy.
A victory against Norway would allow coach Gian Piero Gattuso’s team to maintain their ninth-place position and solidify their status in the top seeding pot for the December 5th draw, even if they must navigate the playoffs. According to Football Meets Data, the new seeding structure aims to prevent playoff teams from being immediately placed in exceptionally arduous groups.
The stakes are high as a strong seeding could dramatically improve Italy’s chances of progressing further in the tournament. While a 9-0 victory over Norway-necessary for direct qualification-remains a long shot, Sunday’s match at San Siro is now a pivotal moment for Italy’s 2026 World cup journey.
