Useful information
Prime News delivers timely, accurate news and insights on global events, politics, business, and technology
Italy will have to deal with the threat of Manchester City striker and Norway Erling Haaland in the 2026 World Cup classification after his departure from the Nations League.
The results of the quarterfinals of the Nations League ended the alignment for the UEFA classification for the end of next year, which were launched this week.
The Azzurri will begin its campaign to ensure a place in the 48 team tournament in June. They enter group I as a result of their loss of quarterfinals against Germany.
The first game of Italy will be against Norway in Oslo, with Haaland probably enjoy a meeting with a team that awarded a strange second goal in its 3-3 second draw with Germany on Sunday. Haaland was in El Blanco when Norway began his attempt to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 with a 5-0 victory over Moldova.
He can. 🇳🇴🤖#WCQ | #FifaWorldcup https://t.co/qbellpohb pic.twitter.com/fy4SOP2DKU
– FIFA World Cup (@fifaWorldcup) March 22, 2025
Group I also presents Israel and Estonia.
Meanwhile, Germany is already assured of at least one play-off place based on the ranking of the league of its nations. Die Mannschaft is expected to go through Group A, in which they will face Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.
France begins against Ukraine
France is trying to reach a third final World Cup, and Ukraine will be its first opponents on September 5.
Les Bleus, who, like the semifinals of the German League and the companions of the League of Nations, Spain and Portugal, are sure of at least one play-off place, Enter Group D. Iceland and Azerbaijan constitute the rest of that group.
Spain enters group E along with Türkiye, Georgia and Bulgaria. La Roja beat Georgia on a route to glory in the 2024 Eurocup last year. For Portugal, is Hungary, Republic of Ireland and Armenia in Group F.
The Netherlands suffered the defeat against Spain for penalty in the League of Nations last eight and, as a result, they enter the G. Finland, Poland, Lithuania and Malta group will be their opposition, with a trip to Helsinki first on June 7.
The loss of shooting of Croatia against France means that they will participate in Group L, which Montenegro and the Czech Republic opened with victories about the Gibraltar and Feroe Islands, respectively. The 2018 World Cup finalists begin against Gibraltar in June.
Denmark is in group C with Scotland, Greece and Belarus.
