Norway punched their ticket to the 2026 World Cup in stunning fashion, delivering a seismic 4–1 victory that sent four-time world champions Italy crashing into the dreaded playoffs. Erling Haaland rose to the moment with a ruthless brace, driving a Norwegian performance that felt every bit like a changing of the guard. As the final whistle sounded, Norway celebrated qualification with authority — while Italy, once again, found themselves staring down a perilous postseason path.