Norway continued their commanding run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, solidifying their position atop Group I with a convincing victory over Estonia in the seventh matchday. The win brings the Norwegian team—and their talisman, Erling Haaland—to the very precipice of securing a spot at the global tournament, ending a long drought since their last appearance at "France 98."
Absolute Dominance and Group I Supremacy
The victory over Estonia secured Norway a perfect 21 points in Group I, placing them a full three points ahead of second-place Italy. This dominant run means that the path to the 2026 World Cup is now incredibly clear: as long as Norway avoids defeat in their final qualifying match against Italy, Erling Haaland and his teammates will officially qualify for the World Cup finals.
While there exists a theoretical possibility that Norway could lose their direct qualification ticket if they suffer a heavy defeat against the Azzurri, the reality of the standings makes this scenario almost impossible. Norway currently boasts a formidable +17 goal difference, a statistical hurdle that would be nearly "unsolvable" for Coach Gennaro Gattuso's Italian squad to overturn while simultaneously winning the match. Therefore, it is justifiable to affirm that the Norwegian team is virtually "one millimeter" away from clinching their World Cup ticket—a well-deserved reward for the exceptional consistency and performance they have demonstrated throughout the entire qualifying campaign.
Second-Half Explosion Decides the Contest
The match against Estonia began with Norway facing more internal questions—specifically concerning the selection of Andreas Schjelderup—than immediate external threats, but the first half proved to be surprisingly difficult. Estonia deployed a disciplined defensive setup, successfully frustrating the home side. The most notable chance of the opening period actually fell to Estonia's Rauno Sappinen, whose effort was thwarted by a fine save from Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Antonio Nusa was a bright spot for Norway's attack, creating openings, though Erling Haaland was limited to a simple header. However, any anxiety felt by the home support quickly vanished after the break as Norway unleashed an attacking masterclass in the second half.
The scoring frenzy was kick-started by Alexander Sorloth, who netted a rapid-fire brace in the opening two minutes of the second half, instantly breaking the deadlock and the Estonian resistance.
Not to be outdone, Erling Haaland then scored twice in quick succession, showcasing his clinical finishing and taking his total goal tally for the campaign to an astonishing 14.
Estonia managed to pull back a consolation goal through Robi Saarma, but the damage had already been done.
Schjelderup was eventually brought on for the final 20 minutes, but by then, Norway had taken the initiative to control the tempo of the game, effortlessly seeing out the match and securing a commanding 4-1 victory.
The Final Hurdle: A Trip to San Siro
With their place at the World Cup virtually confirmed, Haaland and his teammates now turn their focus to the final fixture: a highly anticipated trip to San Siro to face Italy.
While the mathematics heavily favour Norway, playing Italy away—even an Italy side needing a miracle—will test their resolve and ability to handle pressure one last time. For a generation of Norwegian football fans, this moment represents the culmination of years of waiting and the realization of a dream, largely built upon the unparalleled goal-scoring prowess of Erling Haaland. Barring a monumental and historic upset, Norway is set to grace the World Cup stage once again.