Photo by Claudio Villa - FIGC/FIGC via Getty Images

Italy vs Norway Lineups, Preview

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated Nov 16, 2025 10:43 AM ET

Unlike the majority of the World Cup qualifiers, the match between Italy and Norway is a direct match between two teams that can directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Both teams are in Group I in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers.

Norway tops the group with 21 points after winning all seven of their World Cup qualifier games in the group. Norway not only has a point advantage, but a goal difference advantage as well, +29 goal difference after scoring 33 goals and conceding only four.

Italy is second with 18 points after six wins and one loss in the group. Their goal difference is +12 goals after scoring 20 goals and conceding eight.

Norway is the favorite to directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup over Italy due to the points and the goal difference. Norway only needs to avoid defeat to qualify for the World Cup. Norway last played in a World Cup in 1998.

Italy will need to beat Norway by nine goals or more today due to the goal difference to qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup. If Italy wins by less than nine goals, draws, or loses to Norway, the Italians will play in the second round of the UEFA World Cup qualifiers.

Italy and Norway last played each other on June 6, 2025, where Norway beat Italy 3-0 wth goals from Alexander Sørloth, Antonio Nusa, and Erling Haaland.

Norway's forward #09 Erling Braut Haaland (C), Italy's defender #14 Diego Coppola (L) and Italy's midfielder #18 Nicolo Barella vie for the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Group I football match between Norway and Italy at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on June 6, 2025. (Photo by Cornelius Poppe / NTB / AFP) / Norway OUT (Photo by CORNELIUS POPPE/NTB/AFP via Getty Images)

Where to Watch Italy vs Norway

Italy vs Norway will kick off at 2:45 p.m. ET/ 11:45 a.m. PT in the United States. The match will kick off at 8:45 p.m. local time in Milan, Italy, at the San Siro.

The match will be available to watch across TV channels and through streaming services in the U.S. and in other countries.

FS1
FOX Sports
ViX
Vix Premium Deportes 1
fuboTV
RAI PLAY (Italy)
Sky Sport Italy (Italy)
TV 2 Play (Norway)

Expected Lineups for Italy and Norway

Italy

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Defenders: Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Gianluca Mancini, Alessandro Bastoni
Midfielders: Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi, Manuel Locatelli, Nicolo Barella, Matteo Politano
Forwards: Francesco Pio Esposito, Mateo Retegui

Norway

Goalkeeper: Ørjan Håskjold Nyland
Defenders: David Møller Wolfe, Torbjørn Heggem, Kristoffer Vassbakk Ajer, Julian Ryerson
Midfielders: Antonio Nusa, Patrick Berg, Sander Berge, Oscar Bobb
Forwards: Alexander Sørloth, Erling Haaland

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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