MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 23: Panoramic view of the stadium reflected in rainwater before the Coppa Italia Frecciarossa Round of 16 match between AC Milan and US Lecce at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on September 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images)
Italy ended their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 loss to Norway, their worst home defeat in 70 years. This result confirmed the national team’s poor performance while playing at San Siro.
Despite leading 1-0 at half-time thanks to Pio Esposito, the Azzurri collapsed after the hour, conceding four goals through Antonio Nusa, Ellins Haaland (x2) and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
As a result, Norway maintains its 100% winning record in World Cup qualifying and will advance to the final tournament to be held in North America in the summer. Italy finished second in Group I with six wins and two losses out of eight qualifying matches, and will advance to the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
San Siro is not a happy hunting ground for the Italian national team
After Thursday’s 4-1 loss to Norway, Italy have won just three of their last 13 matches played at the San Siro. This corresponds to a win rate of approximately 23%.
Italy have played 13 matches at the San Siro in the past 19 years, with their only wins coming in that time: against Denmark in the 2012 World Cup qualifier, against England in the 2022 Nations League and against Ukraine in the 2023 Euro qualifier.
Of the last 13 matches played at the San Siro, six have ended in draws and four have ended in defeats. Worryingly, Italy’s last three matches at the San Siro have all ended in defeat.
Italy’s San Siro’s results over the past 20 years
0-0 draw vs. France (EURO Qualifier, August 9, 2007)
3-1 win vs Denmark (World Cup Qualifier, 2012/10/16)
1-1 draw vs. Germany (friendly match, 2013/11/15)
1-1 draw vs. Croatia (EURO Qualifier, November 16, 2014)
0-0 draw vs Germany (friendly match, 2016/11/15)
0-0 draw vs. Sweden (World Cup Qualifier, 2017/11/13)
1-2 loss vs. Spain (Nations League, 2021/06/10)
1-0 win vs. England (Nations League, 2022/09/23)
2-1 victory vs. Ukraine (EURO qualification, December 9, 2023)
1-3 loss vs. France (Nations League, 2024/11/17)
1-2 loss vs Germany (Nations League, 2025/03/20)
1-4 loss vs. Norway (World Cup Qualifier, 2025/11/16)
Where will Italy play in the World Cup Playoffs?
It is yet to be confirmed where Italy will play their World Cup play-off semi-finals. The Azzurri have home advantage and, according to SportMediaset, the match could be played at the San Siro, Rome’s Stadio Olimpico or Turin’s Allianz Stadium.
Also, assuming Italy makes it through to the semi-finals, it remains to be seen whether they will play home or away in the play-off final. This will decide in Thursday’s playoff drawing..
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