Italy Faces Pressure to Avoid Another Qualification Failure for the 2026 World Cup

Italy's national team is battling against the ghost of past disappointments as they strive to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. After failing to secure a spot in both the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, the stakes are high for the four-time champions. Their recent 4-1 loss to Norway has compounded their struggles, leaving them in a vulnerable position.

Currently sitting in second place in Group L, Italy is now reliant on the play-offs to secure a World Cup berth. This means they have to overcome the heartbreak of previous misses, including the 1-0 aggregate loss to Sweden in the 2018 qualifiers and a shocking loss to North Macedonia in 2022.

Head coach Gennaro Gattuso is under pressure to deliver results, with calls for changes to the qualification process. Gattuso pointed out the increasing difficulty of securing spots in the World Cup due to expanded representation from other regions, adding to the challenges Italy faces.

Despite historical successes, Italy's current path appears steep, with fans and pundits expressing both concern and frustration over the team's performance. As they head into the critical phase of qualifying, the pressure mounts to reclaim their status on the international stage. With their qualification hanging in the balance, Italy hopes to turn the tide and avoid another devastating failure.