Norway took a major step toward securing a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada after a commanding 4-1 victory over visiting Estonia on Thursday in the eighth round of the UEFA Group I qualifiers.
The “Lions” lifted their tally to 21 points, extending their lead to six points over second-placed Italy with just one match remaining in the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Estonia remained stuck at 4 points in fourth place.
Norway opened the scoring in the 50th minute through Alexander Sørloth, who doubled the lead just two minutes later with another powerful finish.
Erling Haaland – the team’s superstar and all-time top scorer – took charge shortly after, netting the third and fourth goals in the 56th and 62nd minutes. Estonia managed a consolation goal in the 64th minute through Robi Saarma.
Hungary Clings to Slim Qualification Hopes
Hungary kept its faint hopes of automatic qualification alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Armenia in the fifth (and penultimate) round of Group F.
Barnabás Varga scored the decisive goal in the 33rd minute, and despite late pressure, Armenia failed to produce an equalizer before the final whistle.
With the victory, Hungary climbed to 8 points, securing second place in the group with two wins, two draws, and one defeat.
Armenia, on the other hand, remained bottom of the table with just 3 points after suffering their fourth loss of the campaign.
Iceland Triumphs over Azerbaijan to Move into Second Place
Iceland temporarily moved into second place in Group D after a solid 2-0 win against Azerbaijan in the fifth (penultimate) round.
Albert Gudmundsson opened the scoring in the 20th minute, while Sverrir Ingi Ingason doubled the lead in the 39th minute. The victory marked Iceland’s second win of the qualifiers, along with one draw and two losses.
The Icelandic side now sits on 7 points, level with Ukraine but ahead on goal difference.
Azerbaijan remained at just 1 point, rooted to the bottom of the group after suffering their fifth defeat.
Only the top team in each group qualifies directly for the 2026 World Cup, while second-placed teams must navigate the European playoff in March for a chance to secure a spot at the tournament.
