Norway have gone through the World Cup qualifiers as the world’s highest scoring team, with top scorer Erling Braut Haaland without losing a single point Norway. (The San Siro is now the national arena, but on a daily basis it is divided between AC Milan and Inter Milan.
As Football-Italy writes: Italy confirms the national team’s terrible San Siro results after a 1-4 loss against Norway.
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Italy suffered their worst home defeat in 70 years with a 4-1 loss to Norway in their final World Cup qualifier, a result that confirms the national team’s poor record when playing at the San Siro.
Despite leading 1-0 at half-time after a goal from Pio Esposito, the Azzurri collapsed after the break and conceded four goals scored by Antonio Nusa, Erlins Haaland (two goals) and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The result kept Norway’s 100% winning streak in the World Cup qualifiers intact, and they will now advance to the main tournament in North America this summer. Italy will have to go through the play-offs for the third time in a row, after finishing second in Group I with six wins and two losses from their eight qualifying matches.
San Siro is not a good hunting ground for the Italian national team.
After Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Norway, Italy have now won only three of their last 13 games played at the San Siro.
This corresponds to a win percentage of approximately 23%.
Italy have played 13 matches at the San Siro over the last 19 years and have only managed victories against Denmark in World Cup qualifying in 2012, against England in the Nations League in 2022 and against Ukraine in Euro 2023 qualification during that period.
Six of the last 13 games at the San Siro have ended in a draw, and four have ended in defeat.
Alarmingly, all three of Italy’s last three games at the San Siro have ended in defeat.
Italy’s results at the San Siro in the last 20 years:
- 0–0 draw against France (European Championship qualification, 8 September 2007)
- 3–1 win against Denmark (World Cup qualification, 16 October 2012)
- Draw 1-1 against Germany (Friendlies, 15 November 2013)
- Draw 1-1 against Croatia (European Championship qualification, 16 November 2014)
- Draw 0-0 against Germany (Friendlies, 15 November 2016)
- Draw 0-0 against Sweden (World Cup qualification, 13 November 2017)
- Loss 1-2 against Spain (Nations League, 6 October 2021)
- 1-0 win against England (Nations League, 23 September 2022)
- Win 2-1 against Ukraine (European Championship qualification, 12 September 2023)
- Loss 1-3 against France (Nations League, 17 November 2024)
- Loss 1-2 against Germany (Nations League, March 20, 2025)
- Loss 1-4 against Norway (World Cup qualification, 16 November 2025)
Where will Italy play their World Cup play-off matches?
It has not yet been confirmed where Italy will play their World Cup playoff semi-final.
The Azzurri will have home advantage, and according to SportMediaset, this match could be played at the San Siro, or possibly at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome or at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.
It also remains to be seen whether Italy will have home or away in the play-off final, provided they advance from the semi-finals.
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This will be decided during the playoff draw on Thursday.
