Does Erling Haaland play today? Where to watch Italy vs Norway live today in the European Cup qualifiers
Erling Haaland enters the field this Sunday as an absolute starter for Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The Manchester City star leads the Scandinavian attack against Italy, in a decisive match for the 10th round of Group I, scheduled for 4:45 pm Brasília time.
Norway arrives in Milan with 21 points and 100% success, needing only a draw to guarantee a direct place in the World Cup. Italy, with 18 points, dreams of an unlikely victory to overtake their rival on goal difference.
- Direct confrontation for European leadership
- Stadium: San Siro/Giuseppe Meazza, capacity 75 thousand
- Main referee: Alejandro Hernández Hernández
- Exclusive broadcast in Brazil via streaming
The game represents Norway’s historic chance to return to the World Cup after 28 years, driven by Haaland’s brilliance.
Haaland starter and impressive numbers
Erling Haaland starts as captain and cthunderous in Ståle Solbakken’s 4-4-2 formation. With 14 goals in seven qualifying games, the Norwegian is looking to break Lewandowski’s record with two more accurate shots.
The confirmed lineup places Haaland alongside Sørloth in attack, exploiting quick transitions against the Italian defense. He is coming off a brace in the 4-1 victory over Estonia, making his tally 30 goals this season for club and country.
- Goals in the campaign: 14 in 7 matches
- Assists: 2, focusing on submissions
- Average shots per game: 4.2
- Conversion rate: 52%
His presence raises expectations for a high-level duel at the iconic San Siro.
Italy lineup confirmed
Gennaro Gattuso opts for 3-5-2 to contain the Norwegian attack. Donnarumma returns to goal, while Retegui and Esposito form the offensive duo.
- Donnarumma; Buongiorno, Mancini, Bastoni
- Bellanova, Cristante, Ricci, Dimarco
- Politano, Retegui, Esposito
On the bench, options like Scamacca and Zaccagni could come in to reinforce the attack in the second half. The Italian defense has conceded just three goals in the last few rounds.
Where to watch live and stream online
Brazilian fans follow the clash exclusively on Disney+, which holds the rights to the European qualifiers. The platform starts coverage at 4:30 pm, with real-time analysis and statistics.
ESPN broadcasts on closed TV for subscribers of the sports package. With no options on open channels, streaming becomes the main choice for the public.
- HD coverage with multiple angles
- Narrators in Brazilian Portuguese
- Interactive features like instant replays
- Available on smart TVs, cell phones and computers
The UEFA signal guarantees premium quality direct from Milan.
Norway’s recent form under Haaland
The Scandinavian team maintains an absolute unbeaten record in the qualifiers, with elastic scores that highlight Haaland’s firepower.
- Norway 4 x 1 Estonia (Haaland brace)
- France 0 x 2 Norway
- Norway 11 x 1 Moldova
- Norway 5 x 0 Israel
- Belgium 1 x 3 Norway
In ten recent competitive games, Haaland has scored in nine, contributing to 26 of the team’s 33 goals.
History of clashes between the teams
The last duel ended with a 3-0 Norwegian victory in Oslo, in June 2025, with goals from Sørloth, Nusa and Haaland. Through nine meetings, Italy has the advantage with five victories, but the Nordics have grown in recent years.
At the San Siro, the Italians had won their previous three games against Norway, all by slim scores. This retrospect adds extra pressure to Gattuso’s team.
- Total Italian victories: 5
- Draws: 3
- Italian defeats: 1 (recent)
- Goals scored by Norway in Milan: 0
Today’s clash could rewrite part of that history.
Italy’s last five games
The Azzurri are on a positive streak, but with a focus on defense to neutralize Haaland:
- Italy 2 x 0 Moldova
- Ukraine 0 x 3 Italy
- Italy 4 x 1 Belgium
- Israel 1 x 2 Italy
- Italy 3 x 0 France
There were nine goals conceded throughout the campaign, with an emphasis on clean sheets in home games.
Norway’s last five games
The Norwegians remain perfect, with Haaland as top scorer in all:
- Norway 4 x 1 Estonia
- Norway 5 x 0 Israel
- France 0 x 2 Norway
- Norway 11 x 1 Moldova
- Belgium 1 x 3 Norway
+29 goals reflects the efficiency of the attack led by number 9.
Featured players with Haaland in focus
Alexander Sørloth complements Haaland with seven goals and four assists, forming the most prolific duo in the qualifiers. On the Italian side, Barella commands the midfield with five assists.
- Haaland: 14 goals, constant threat
- Sørloth: 7 goals, speed on the wing
- Barella: 5 assists, vision of the game
- Retegui: 8 goals for Italy
- Nusa: 6 dribbles per match on average
These names promise decisive moments on the Milanese pitch.
Officiating and game control
Spanish Alejandro Hernández Hernández referees the duel, with an average of 4.5 cards per match. His style allows fluidity, but punishes hard fouls in Haaland’s attack.
VAR is under Juan Martínez Munuera, also Spanish. Five substitutions per team follow UEFA rules for qualifiers.
Weather forecast and conditions at San Siro
Milan records 12°C at 4:45 pm, with cloudy skies and 10 km/h wind. Chance of rain at 20%, without affecting the newly installed hybrid lawn.
The 62% humidity favors possession play, similar to the conditions in Italy’s victory over France last month.
Norwegian attack numbers with Haaland
Norway’s offensive is impressive in terms of statistics:
- 33 goals in 7 games
- 9 clean sheets in 10 recent matches
- Average ownership: 62%
- Shoots: 15 per game
Haaland accounts for 42% of the goals, with mid-range shots converted in 60% of cases.
Tickets and audience expectations
The 75 thousand tickets sold out quickly, generating 8 million euros. The Azzurri fans fill the stadium with mosaics and chants, while 3,000 Norwegians travel to support Haaland.
Box office revenue breaks season records, with VIP sectors selling for 300 euros each.
Solbak Strategyken for Haaland to shine
The Norwegian coach prioritizes long balls and crosses to the center forward, with Berge protecting the middle. Haaland is given freedom to move, exploring spaces behind the Italian defense.
Solbakken praised the player’s physical form, who trained extra to keep the pace high during the 90 minutes.
Fun facts about Haaland against Italy
Haaland scored the winning goal in the first leg of the match, his first against the Azzurri. He could become the highest Norwegian scorer in qualifying, surpassing 15 goals.
- Personal record: 30 goals in the season until November
- First World Cup possible since 1998 for Norway
- Rivalry with Donnarumma: saved penalty in 2022
- Norwegian fans: biggest trip since Euro 2024
These details enrich the spectacle at San Siro.
Italian defensive tactics against Haaland
Gattuso plans zone marking with Bastoni and Mancini, forcing the Norwegian to the flanks. Training focused on aerial interceptions, where Haaland wins 70% of duels.
The strategy includes high pressure to recover the ball in the opponent’s half, limiting the Scandinavians’ quick transitions.
