Italy secured a 2-0 victory over Moldova in their FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying match on June 9, 2025, at the Stadio Città del Tricolore in Reggio Emilia. This win marked the final game for Italy’s coach Luciano Spalletti, who was dismissed following a disappointing 3-0 loss to Norway earlier in the campaign. Despite the off-field turmoil, Spalletti’s side managed to claim their first points in Group I with a hard-fought but ultimately comfortable win against a resilient Moldova side.
The match started nervously for Italy, with Moldova nearly taking the lead in the ninth minute through Ion Nicolaescu, but the goal was ruled offside after a VAR review. Italy then grew into the game, creating several chances, including a header from debutant Luca Ranieri that struck the crossbar. The breakthrough came just before halftime when Giacomo Raspadori capitalized on a loose ball to volley a powerful shot into the bottom-left corner, giving Italy a 1-0 lead.
Luciano Spalletti
Early in the second half, Andrea Cambiaso doubled Italy’s advantage. After a strong run and cross from substitute Riccardo Orsolini, Cambiaso was perfectly positioned to finish from close range. Although struggled to extend their lead further, they maintained control and saw out the match without conceding.
Italy finished with an expected goals (xG) of 2.63 from 28 shots, reflecting their dominance despite some inefficiency in front of goal. Moldova, ranked 154th in the world, showed resilience but failed to convert their chances.
This victory was a bittersweet farewell for Spalletti, who leaves with a 50% win rate over 24 matches but amid growing dissatisfaction over Italy’s form. this team currently sits third in Group I, trailing leaders Norway by nine points but with two games in hand. The team will look to build on this win under new management as they continue their quest to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 2014.