Liam Duckstein
Italy’s Struggle to Secure World Cup Spot
Italy finds itself in a precarious position, teetering on the brink of missing the World Cup finals for the third consecutive time. The four-time champions, who last graced the tournament in 2014, are in a fight for survival in their qualifying group.
The Azzurri, currently second in their group, trail leaders Norway by three points. The decisive match against Norway is set for Sunday at the San Siro. However, Italy’s task is monumental—they must win by a nine-goal margin to qualify automatically due to Norway’s superior goal difference.
This scenario sets the stage for a likely play-off route, a path fraught with recent heartbreak for Italy. In 2018, they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Sweden, and in 2022, they suffered a humiliating 1-0 defeat at home to North Macedonia, ending their hopes of qualifying for the Qatar World Cup.
Expanding the World Cup, Shrinking Italy’s Margin for Error
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, will feature an expanded field of 48 nations. Yet, even with more teams participating, the stakes remain high for Italy.
James Horncastle, an Italian football journalist, remarked on the Euro Leagues podcast, “Even with an expanded World Cup, that is going to be bigger than ever, for Italy to miss out—it was called apocalyptic the first time they missed out in 2017, I don’t know what stage of the apocalypse we are in now.”
From Glory to Despair: Italy’s Recent History
Italy’s last major triumph came in 2021 when they won the European Championship. However, their World Cup campaign has been a series of setbacks. Their qualifying journey began disastrously with a 3-0 loss to Norway, leading to manager Luciano Spalletti publicly announcing his resignation, though he remained for one more match.
Under new manager Gennaro Gattuso, Italy has shown glimpses of their former self, scoring 18 goals in his first five matches. However, Gattuso’s managerial career has been rocky, with short stints at Fiorentina, Valencia, Marseille, and most recently, Hajduk Split.
Also read: Italy vs Norway Prediction: 16.11.2025 FIFA World Cup UEFA Qualification 2026
A Fight for Redemption
Despite the challenges, Gattuso has instilled a fighting spirit in the team. His side has displayed a relentless attacking approach, though questions remain about their tactical naivety and defensive fragility.
Mina Rzouki, another Italian football journalist, noted, “The players are playing for him and admire what he has achieved with the Italian national team.” Yet, she cautioned, “The team has no balance… they are reckless and look tactically naive at times.”
As Italy prepares for the crucial match against Norway, the pressure is on. A loss could consign them to the play-offs, where their World Cup dreams have crumbled in the past. For a nation with such a rich footballing heritage, the stakes couldn’t be higher.