In a significant farewell match for Luciano Spalletti, Italy secured a 2-0 win against Moldova on Monday, marking their initial points in a challenging quest for World Cup qualification since 2014.
Spalletti received notice before the match in Reggio Emilia that his position as coach would be terminated following Italy’s disappointing 3-0 defeat to Norway last week, which began an arduous qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup.
Goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso allowed Spalletti to depart with a victory. However, Italy remains in a precarious position within Group I, trailing Norway by nine points after they defeated Estonia 1-0, with a critical contribution from Erling Haaland’s goal.
Italy’s chances are slim; only the top team in each of the 12 qualifying groups will secure a spot in the upcoming 48-team tournament in North America. The runners-up will face off in playoffs, a stage where Italy was previously eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, missing out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively.
Italy vs. Moldova Highlights | 2026 World Cup Qualifying
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Reporting by The Associated Press.
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