UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Mateo Retegui of Italy celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Italy want revenge on Erling Haaland’s Norway in this final World Cup qualifier, turning to Mateo Retegui, Francesco Pio Esposito and returning Gianluigi Donnarumma.
It kicks off at San Siro at 19.45 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
Although a victory here would put the teams level on points, it’d require a 9-0 result for Italy to overturn the massive gap in goal difference.
That’s not to say there is nothing at stake here, because going into December’s draw for the play-offs in March, a win would still boost their ranking, and take some revenge for the opening 3-0 defeat in Oslo.
Luciano Spalletti was still the coach then, and Gennaro Gattuso has won all his games in charge.
With an eye on the play-offs in March, Sandro Tonali and Andrea Cambiaso are rested because they are one yellow card away from suspension, but Davide Frattesi in the same situation plays regardless.
Inter striker Esposito partners Retegui upfront, with Nicolò Barella returning from his ban after the 2-0 victory away to Moldova.
Gattuso adopted a 4-4-2 formation for that match, but here switches back to the 3-5-2.
Captain Donnarumma returns in goal to face his Manchester City teammate Erling Haaland, but Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has not shaken off a hip injury.
The likes of Moise Kean, Leonardo Spinazzola, Niccolò Cambiaghi, Giorgio Scalvini and Nicolò Rovella are all injured.
Norway have a 100 per cent record in this World Cup qualifying group, having won all seven games with 33 goals scored and only four conceded.
They are coming off a 4-1 win over Estonia on Thursday.
Martin Odegaard is their only major injury absentee since October.
Bologna’s Torbjorn Heggem starts in defence, with Sassuolo midfielder Kristian Thorstvedt.
Italy vs. Norway official line-ups
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Frattesi, Dimarco; Retegui, Esposito
Italy bench: Carnesecchi, Vicario, Bellanova, Buongiorno, Ricci, Raspadori, Scamacca, Gabbia, Cristante, Orsolini, Cambiaso, Zaccagni
Norway: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Thorstvedt, Berge, Berg, Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland
Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Bastoni; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Frattesi, Dimarco; Retegui, Esposito
Norway: Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Heggem, Moller Wolfe; Thorstvedt, Berge, Berg, Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland
Ref: Hernandez (ESP)
Norway bench: Dyngeland, Tangvk, Thorsby, Ostigard, Schjelderup, Strand Larsen, Bjorkan, Pedersen, Arnstad, Langas, Bobb, Aasgaard
Ref: Hernandez (ESP)
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