Italy clinch routine win over Israel to close gap on table-toppers Norway

Italy celebrate against Israel

Italy closed in on the 2026 FIFA World Cup by sealing a guaranteed top-two place in qualifying Group I courtesy of a 3-0 win over Israel at the Bluenergy Stadium, extending their unbeaten H2H record to nine matches (W8, D1).

After winning their previous two home games by an aggregate score of 7-0, Italy were unsurprisingly strong in the opening stages as Mateo Retegui and Andrea Cambiaso both shot efforts a whisker wide.

However,0Israel were threatening on the break, with Oscar Gloukh curling just wide before Manor Solomon, who had scored seven of his previous nine competitive goals before half time, forced Gianluigi Donnarumma to tip over his strike.0

Nevertheless, Italy were given a golden chance to go into the second half in front, as Matan Baltaxa fouled Retegui in the box. The striker stepped up and lashed the resulting penalty into the top corner, ensuring that Italy have now scored before the break in seven of their last eight home matches.

It was almost two on the other side of the whistle, but NicolF2 Barella’s sweet volley flew inches over.

However, only facing a one-goal deficit, Israel were still determined to come away with a positive result, and only the brilliance of Donnarumma stopped them equalising just before the hour mark when the goalkeeper parried away Gloukh’s pinpoint strike.

Yet, the visitors did not help themselves when Retegui was able to win the ball high up the pitch, and Omri Glazer was powerless to stop the striker’s strike from curling beautifully into the top corner.

The points were secured deep into stoppage time when Gianluca Mancini buried from Federico Dimarco's assist.

Match stats

Italy are still three points behind Norway in Group I with a vastly inferior goal difference, but with two qualifiers still to play, the Azzurri remain in contention for an automatic pass to next year’s finals after failing to reach either of the previous two editions of the competition.

Their win comes at Israel’s expense, who are now out of contention.