Italy Suffers Fourth Consecutive Defeat, World Cup Qualification in Doubt

Italy's national football team is facing a severe crisis after a 3-0 defeat to Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, intensifying fears of missing the tournament for the third consecutive time. The loss, marked by first-half goals from Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa, and Erling Haaland, leaves Italy at the bottom of Group I with no points, while Norway leads the group undefeated. This defeat follows a series of poor performances, including losses in the UEFA Nations League, and has sparked widespread criticism of coach Luciano Spalletti, who has acknowledged the team's difficulties. Italian media describe the situation as an unprecedented crisis, with the national team struggling to score and showing defensive vulnerabilities. The Azzurri now face a daunting task to qualify directly by topping their group or risk a challenging playoff route, which has previously ended in disappointment. The upcoming match against Moldova is seen as crucial for Italy's hopes of World Cup qualification.