Italy 1-4 Norway defeat confirms national team’s terrible San Siro record

Italy suffered their worst home defeat in 70 years with a 4-1 loss against Norway to close the World Cup qualification campaign, a result which confirms the national team’s poor record when playing in San Siro. 

Despite leading 1-0 at half-time through Pio Esposito, the Azzurri collapsed after the hour mark, conceding four times through Antonio Nusa, Erlins Haaland (x2) and Jorgen Strand Larsen. 

The result kept Norway’s 100% World Cup qualifying win record intact, and they will now progress to the final tournament in North America in the summer. Italy, for the third time in a row, will have to go through the play-offs, having finished second in Group I with six wins and two losses from their eight qualifiers. 

Following Thursday’s 4-1 loss against Norway, Italy have now won just three of their last 13 matches played in San Siro. That equates to a win rate of about 23%. 

Italy have played 13 games in San Siro over the last 19 years, and have only picked up victories against Denmark in World Cup qualifying in 2012, against England in the Nations League in 2022 and against Ukraine in EUROs qualification in 2023 over that time.

Six of those last 13 matches in San Siro have ended in draws, and four have ended in defeat. Concerningly, all of Italy’s last three matches in San Siro have ended in defeat. 

0-0 draw vs. France (EUROs qualification, 08/09/2007)

3-1 win vs. Denmark (World Cup qualification, 16/10/2012)

1-1 draw vs. Germany (Friendly, 15/11/2013)

1-1 draw vs. Croatia (EUROs qualification, 16/11/2014)

0-0 draw vs. Germany (Friendly, 15/11/2016)

0-0 draw vs. Sweden (World Cup qualification, 13/11/2017)

1-2 loss vs. Spain (Nations League, 06/10/2021)

1-0 win vs. England (Nations League, 23/09/2022)

2-1 win vs. Ukraine (EUROs qualification, 12/09/2023)

1-3 loss vs. France (Nations League, 17/11/2024)

1-2 loss vs. Germany  (Nations League, 20/03/2025)

1-4 loss vs. Norway (World Cup qualification, 16/11/2025)

It has not yet been confirmed where Italy will play their World Cup play-off semi-final. The Azzurri will have the home advantage, and, as per SportMediaset, this could be played in San Siro, or potentially at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome or at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. 

It also remains to be seen whether Italy will be at home or away for the play-off final, assuming that they get through the semis. This will be determined at the play-off draw on  Thursday.