Frustrated Italy fans streamed out of the San Siro, bracing for more World Cup playoff drama, after their team slumped to a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Norway on Sunday in their last qualifier.

Italy needed a nine-goal win to dislodge Norway from the top of Group ‘I’ and secure direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It was an almost impossible task, but the Azzurri failed to clinch even a consolation victory as they suffered another bruising World Cup qualifying night.

The four-time world champions, who last lifted the trophy in 2006, now have to battle through the 16-team UEFA playoffs, which will determine the last four European nations to advance to the World Cup, in March if they are to avoid missing the tournament for a third straight occasion.

The playoffs have not proven a happy hunting ground for Italy, who missed the past two World Cups in Russia and Qatar, both following playoff defeats.

Fears that Italy might fail to win their qualifying group were fuelled after a shock 3-0 defeat to Norway in June prompted the replacement of coach Luciano Spalletti with Gennaro Gattuso.

Italians, who grew up watching the national team reach the World Cup final in 1982, 1994 and 2006, now see a side seemingly lacking world-class players, with the exception of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Four years ago, Italy again finished second in their qualifying group, this time behind Switzerland, and once more found themselves in the playoffs.

Drawn against unfancied North Macedonia in the semi-finals, they were eliminated in shock fashion when Aleksandar Trajkovski struck deep into stoppage time.

In 2018, the Azzurri finished second in their qualifying group behind Spain and were forced into the playoffs, where a narrow 1-0 aggregate defeat to Sweden ended their hopes and left former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon in tears at San Siro.

Between those two failures, Italy were crowned European champions in 2021, a triumph that only made their World Cup absences feel all the more surreal.

“It’s worrying, I’d be a liar to say that it doesn’t concern me, because when you have nights like this it’s much easier if you can stay together, improve the day to day,” Italy coach Gattuso told Rai Sport.

“What worries me is that we’ll next see each other in three months’ time. We’ll find a solution. We want to reach the [playoff] semi-finals, push through to the final, and earn our place at the World Cup.

“We first and foremost have to apologise to our fans, because 4-1 is a heavy result.”

Braving rain and cold, nearly 70,000 fans packed Milan’s stadium on Sunday night. The home fans offered warm support for most of the match, but the atmosphere changed when Norway ran away with the contest in the closing stages and Norwegian fans, eager to celebrate their return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, drowned out the Italian crowd.

“It is indescribable. It is completely unreal. This is what we have dreamed of and worked for over such a long time. The way we have done it is incredible. It is huge,” said Martin Odegaard to Norwegian TV 2.

The injured Arsenal midfielder and usual Norway captain stressed just how much adversity the team has endured after years of painful failed attempts to reach a major tournament.

“We have stood in so much rubbish, so many setbacks. To be here together in this moment means everything. We have had absolute belief and now we are getting the reward. We have fought through so much, and now we stand here with a perfect qualification. It is unreal.”

Erling Haaland scored the decisive brace in the space of seconds for Stale Solbakken’s Norway, who completed their Group ‘I’ campaign in glorious fashion with a perfect 24 points from their eight qualifying matches.

However, Solbakken was coy as to his powerful team’s chances now that a 28-year weight has come to an end.

“Let’s see the draw first… I haven’t even thought about it. For me, it (tonight) was to go from 99 percent to 100 percent and now we have done it in a great way,” Solbakken told reporters. “Let’s see what the draw brings before we go into those questions.”

Haaland’s father Alf-Inge was still an international player when Norway last competed in the World Cup 27 years ago, a tournament won by a Zinedine Zidane-inspired France.

And the Manchester City striker, called a “goal machine” by Solbakken, will be one of the players to watch in North America after smashing in 16 goals during qualifying.

“I’m happy, but more relieved. There’s a lot of pressure and stuff, and I feel it. But it’s fun,” Haaland told TV 2.

The 25-year-old is averaging more than a goal a game for club and country this season and was typically ruthless when presented with his opportunities to both put Norway ahead and then double their lead in the 78th and 79th minutes.

Pio Esposito opened the scoring for Italy in the 11th minute, but once Antonio Nusa levelled with a thumping strike in the 63rd minute, there was only one team who looked like winning, and Jorgen Strand Larsen’s brilliant individual goal completed the rout in stoppage time.