Italy, now it's Haaland: World Cup qualifiers, dates and opponents 🏆 | OneFootball

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After the sensational draw against Germany and the failure to advance in the Nations League, the path to qualification for the 2026 World Cup is defined for Italy.

This is a path of incredible importance to bring Italy back to a World Cup after two failed qualifications and 12 years since the last opportunity.

Hot appointments starting from June, when we will face Norway in an already decisive challenge. Even if Luciano Spalletti reassured in a press conference: "Don't worry, we know what to do."

Let's see what awaits the Azzurri in the coming months.

Road to World Cup: Italy-Norway already decisive

The result of yesterday's match, we know, was decisive in defining the qualifying group for the World Cup: Germany will go to the "soft" group with Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg, while Italy will have to face a more competitive group.

Norway, Israel, Estonia, and Moldova will be the opponents of the Azzurri in Group I of the qualifiers, with eyes already on the key clash with Norway on June 6 in Oslo.

A clash with Erling Haaland's national team that could already direct the fate of the group, forcing the loser to run against the opponent.

It will be vital to avoid having to go through a play-off, with the other three teams in the group decidedly easier for both contenders.

From June to November, in a group... already started

But what are the dates to put on the calendar? Group I has already started on Saturday, with Norway's 5-0 win over Moldova and Israel's 2-1 win over Estonia. Two games whose return will be played tomorrow evening.

Italy will enter the game, as already said, on June 6, with the challenge in Oslo against Norway. This will be followed by the home match against Moldova on June 9 and that against Estonia on September 5.

New away match on September 8 against Israel, while in October Italy will play away against Estonia (on the 11th) and at home against Israel (on the 14th).

The group will end in November with an away match in Moldova (on the 13th) and with what could be the truly decisive match, at home against Norway on November 16.

Nightmare play-off? How much do bad memories weigh...

The goal is undoubtedly the first place: vital for the Azzurri to avoid second place and the ordeal of the play-offs. Too painful are the memories of the eliminations against Sweden and North Macedonia in the last two World Cup qualifiers.

In the unfortunate event of a second place, how will the play-offs work? The sixteen teams will be divided into four groups, with semi-finals and final, without a return match, at the home of the top seed.

The dates? The semi-finals will be played on March 26, 2026, the finals on March 31, 2026. Days when we hope to be able to enjoy, instead, a pleasant friendly match of our already qualified national team.

📸 KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV - AFP or licensors