MILAN, ITALY – MARCH 20: Sandro Tonali of Italy makes a pass whilst under pressure from Joshua Kimmich of Germany during the UEFA Nations League quarterfinal leg one match between Italy and Germany at Stadio San Siro on March 20, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
Italy begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Erling Haalandโs Norway with Sandro Tonali, Mateo Retegui and debutant Diego Coppola.
It kicks off at the Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The Azzurri are in Group I along with Norway, Moldova, Estonia and Israel.
While this is the first match for the Nazionale, Norway have already played and won two games to top the group.
Luciano Spalletti has a decimated squad going into this tricky fixture, as Moise Kean, Alessandro Buongiorno, Riccardo Calafiori, Matteo Gabbia and more have pulled out due to injury.
Inter defender Francesco Acerbi also refused to accept the call-up for international duty, so Hellas Veronaโs Coppola is thrown straight in at the deep end for his senior Italy debut.
It is expected to be a 3-4-2-1 formation with Sandro Tonali in a more advanced role along with Giacomo Raspadori in support of striker Retegui.
Atalanta veteran Davide Zappacosta makes his return to the Italy side for the first time since September 2018, with Tottenhamโs Destiny Udogie on the other flank, as Federico Dimarco is not fully fit.
Norway have already won both their World Cup qualifiers, crushing Moldova 5-0 before a 4-2 victory over Israel.
The undoubted star man is Manchester City centre-forward Erling Haaland, who has 40 goals in 41 senior caps for Norway.
At club level, he found the net 31 times in 44 games for Manchester City this season.
Another man to watch is Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard, while Genoaโs Morten Thorsby and Torino winger Marcus Pedersen represent Serie A.
Norway vs. Italy line-ups
Norway: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Thorsby, Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland
Norway bench: Dyngeland, Selvik, Ostigard, Berg, Larsen, Gundersen, Pedersen, Aasgaard, Donnum, Schjelderup, Bobb, Johnsen
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Coppola, Bastoni; Zappacosta, Barella, Rovella, Udogie; Raspadori, Tonali; Retegui
Italy bench: Meret, Carnesecchi, Dimarco, Gatti, Ricci, Orsolini, Casadei, Rugani, Frattesi, Lucca, Ranieri, Cambiaso
Ref: Maria Sanchez (ESP)
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Image:Getty
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