Retegui brace helps Italy seal 2026 World Cup playoff spot

Italy secured at least a place in the 2026 World Cup playoff round after beating Israel 3-0 in Udine on Tuesday, with Mateo Retegui scoring twice and Gianluca Mancini adding a stoppage time header. The result leaves the Azzurri second in UEFA Group I on 15 points, three behind Norway, who top the group on 18 points and a vastly superior goal difference.

Retegui opened the scoring and added a second to put Italy in control before Mancini sealed the win in the 93rd minute. The victory extended Italy's run to four consecutive wins in qualifying under new coach Gennaro Gattuso, reversing a slow start that included a 3-0 defeat to Norway in June. The result also confirmed that Italy cannot finish lower than second in the group and will therefore enter the March playoff bracket unless they overturn Norway's lead in the remaining fixtures.

Gattuso praised his players after the match, saying, "I fall in love with these lads because of how they work and stay united. We know we're on a journey and can't afford to make mistakes, but I like how we're growing." The coach has repeatedly stressed the importance of returning to defensive solidity after a chaotic 5-4 encounter with Israel in...