MILAN, ITALY – Norway secured its place at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998 with a decisive 4-1 victory over Italy on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the San Siro stadium. A sensational second-half performance, capped by two goals in as many minutes from superstar striker Erling Haaland, ensured Norway not only qualified for the 2026 tournament in North America but did so with a perfect record of eight wins in eight matches in their qualifying group.

For Italy, the four-time world champions, the defeat consigns them to the perilous playoff route for the third consecutive World Cup campaign, a devastating blow for a nation still reeling from its failure to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.

The match, which kicked off at 10:45 PM EAT, was broadcast across the continent, including on SuperSport, drawing significant viewership from Kenyan and East African football fans who keenly follow European qualifiers and global stars like Haaland.

A Tale of Two Halves

Italy entered the crucial final match needing an improbable nine-goal victory to overtake Norway at the top of Group I due to the visitors' superior goal difference. The home side started brightly, giving the Milan crowd hope when striker Francesco Pio Esposito scored in the 11th minute, turning sharply in the box to finish past Norway's goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland. The Azzurri controlled much of the first half but failed to extend their lead, a failure that would prove costly.

After the interval, Norway emerged a transformed side. Their relentless pressure paid off in the 63rd minute when winger Antonio Nusa unleashed a powerful strike that beat Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. The equalizer shifted the momentum entirely in favour of Ståle Solbakken's team.

The decisive moments came from Erling Haaland. The Manchester City forward, who had been kept relatively quiet, exploded into action in the 78th minute, sweeping home a volley to give Norway the lead. Just 90 seconds later, he struck again with a deft flick, taking his personal tally to a remarkable 16 goals in the qualifying campaign and sealing Italy's fate. Jørgen Strand Larsen added a fourth goal in stoppage time to complete the comprehensive victory.

Haaland's Golden Generation and Lessons for Kenya

Norway's qualification marks the culmination of a long-term strategy focused on youth development. Haaland, born two years after Norway's last World Cup appearance in France '98, is the face of a 'golden generation' that includes Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard and other top European talents. This success is built on a robust talent identification and development model that the Norwegian Football Federation has cultivated over the past decade, focusing on creating high-quality training environments from a young age.

The Norwegian approach, which emphasizes broad participation at early stages before narrowing the focus for elite talent, could offer valuable insights for Kenya. As the Harambee Stars continue their own journey towards a maiden World Cup appearance, the success of a nation with a population of just over 5 million provides a compelling case study in strategic planning, investment in grassroots football, and nurturing exceptional talent. The achievement of Haaland, who has now scored 55 goals in 48 international appearances, underscores the impact that a single world-class player, supported by a coherent system, can have on a national team's fortunes.

For Italy, the result triggers a period of national introspection. The failure to secure automatic qualification is a significant setback for the reigning European champions and raises serious questions about the direction of the national team under manager Gennaro Gattuso. They now face the uncertainty of the playoffs in March 2026, a path that has led to heartbreak in their last two attempts.

As Norway celebrates a return to football's biggest stage after nearly three decades, their journey offers a beacon of hope and a strategic model for aspiring football nations like Kenya, proving that long-term vision and investment in youth can indeed change a nation's destiny on the world stage.