Italy kick off their 2026 World Cup qualifying journey with a high-stakes clash against one of the top contenders in Group I. On Saturday morning, the Azzurri travel to Oslo's Ullevaal Stadium to take on a rejuvenated Norway side that's been firing on all cylinders.
The Norwegians, who haven't featured at a World Cup since 1998, have made a flying start to their campaign, taking maximum points so far.
Norway arrive in top form, having put together back-to-back wins in style. They outclassed Moldova with a 5-0 rout in Chisinau, then followed it up with a thrilling 4-2 win over Israel on neutral ground in Hungary.
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Italy, meanwhile, step into qualifying off the back of a rollercoaster encounter with Germany in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals during the March international break. After a narrow 2-1 loss in the first leg, the Azzurri staged a stirring comeback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 in the return fixture. Despite their grit and flair, they bowed out 5-4 on aggregate.
Melbet gives Italy as a slight favorite for this European Qualifiers game with odds of 2.50 (+150). Norway's victory pays 2.66 (+166), while a draw is 3.60 (+260).
The Sporting News presents our predictions and tips to bet and make the match more exciting.
Norway vs. Italy prediction, tips, bet builder and odds for World Cup Qualifying clash
Alexander Sorloth scores at any time: 3.33 (+233, Melbet)
Haaland is the main man for Norway, but he does not have the exclusivity of goals. At 29, Alexander Sorloth had a great season at Atletico Madrid and became the ideal partner for the Manchester City striker. With 24 goals for El Colchonero in 2024-2025, 20 of which came in 34 La Liga appearances, the Trondheim-born player scored against Moldova and Israel.
Total Goals Over 3.5: 2.875 (+187, Puntit)
In a match in which Italy can confirm they are a candidate to finish first in the group and Norway are looking for a surprise, both teams will put into play their remarkable offensive power. On the home side, they have achieved this pick in six of their last seven matches and have four consecutive victories with 18 goals scored: 4-1 against Slovenia, 5-0 against Kazakhstan, 5-0 against Moldova and 4-0 against Moldova. 5-0 to Moldova and 4-2 to Israel.
The Azzurri, meanwhile, have scored three in their visit to Germany and scored twice or more in three of their four most recent games: 3-1 to France, 2-1 to Israel and the aforementioned draw against the Germans. Thus, the odds offered by Puntit are in line with two teams full of goals.
Norway vs. Italy predicted score and most likely results
Here's the most likely results for this World Cup qualifying match-up, according to Melbet. Odds are correct with all the firms listed at the time of publish, but are subject to change.
| Result | Odds (Moneyline) |
|---|---|
| Draw 1-1 | 6.5 (+550) |
| Norway 1-0 | 10.00 (+900) |
| Italy 2-1 | 10.00 (+900) |
| Italy 1-0 | 10.00 (+900) |
| Norway 2-0 | 13.00 (+1200) |
| Draw 0-0 | 14.5 (+1350) |
How to watch Norway vs. Italy in World Cup Qualifying action
- Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
- Venue: Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo, Norway)
- Time: 12:15 a.m. IST
- TV/Streaming: N/A