Roberto Mancini and his Italian squad face a challenging trip to Norway in what promises to be one of the most intriguing World Cup 2026 qualification matches this Friday. The Azzurri's journey to North America begins with this crucial European qualifier as part of a packed international schedule.
"Every qualification campaign presents unique challenges, and facing Norway away is certainly one of them," a member of Italy's coaching staff might say about the upcoming fixture.
The European qualification campaign is heating up with multiple matches scheduled for June 6th. Besides the Norway-Italy clash, fans will witness "Czech Republic" taking on "Montenegro", while "Wales" hosts "Liechtenstein" in what should be a straightforward fixture for the Dragons. "Belgium" travels to face "North Macedonia", and "Croatia" visits "Gibraltar" in what looks like a mismatch on paper.
Interestingly, Italian media outlet Gazzetta dello Sport has already published their prediction for the Norway-Italy match, highlighting the importance of this fixture for both nations.
Meanwhile, the Nations League serves up some mouth-watering encounters. "Spain" and "France" lock horns on June 5th in a repeat of their previous tournament final. The fixture is expected to be a lengthy battle according to predictions, with both sides likely to fight until the final whistle.
"Germany" and "Portugal" also meet in Nations League action on June 4th, with the hosts expected to show their scoring prowess. Can Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal withstand the German offensive?
South American teams aren't sitting idle either. "Argentina" faces "Chile", while "Brazil" travels to "Ecuador" in their World Cup qualification matches scheduled for June 5th. "Uruguay" will also be in action against "Paraguay" as the road to the 2026 World Cup intensifies across continents.
Who will take a step closer to qualifying for the world's biggest football tournament? The answers begin to unfold this week.
