Italy once again finds itself on the edge of the precipice. Second in its qualifying group for the 2026 World Cup, the Squadra Azzurra will play its qualification for the most prestigious international competition next March during the Europe zone play-offs. A barrier that the Transalpines will not approach with full confidence.
Quadruple world champion (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), Italy was soundly beaten by Norway (1-4), Sunday evening at San Siro, during the last qualifying match. A heavy defeat which has the sole consequence of plunging the Italians into doubt before these barrages which promise to be hot.
“We apologize to the fans, 4-1 is too heavy a result, said a disillusioned Gennaro Gattuso in a post-match press conference. We had a good first half, but not the second. We had a lot of difficulties, we started to be afraid. It’s worrying, I would be hypocritical to say the opposite… But it’s easy to read, today we have received too big a lesson. »
Italy knows its potential opponents in the play-offs
It must be said that Italy has already missed the two previous editions of the World Cup. In 2017, the Nazionale was eliminated in the play-offs by Sweden, after a double confrontation (1-0, 0-0). In March 2022, the selection led by Roberto Mancini lost at home against North Macedonia (0-1). Two traumas still very present in Italian memories.
For these play-offs next March, the Azzurri will have the advantage of receiving the semi-final, as they are seeded. It will therefore welcome a representative from hat 4. This includes the victorious teams in their Nations League group but not qualified through the qualifiers. The four-time world champions thus know their potential opponents. These are Sweden, Romania, Northern Ireland, Wales or North Macedonia.
Italy will be decided this Thursday (1 p.m.) during the draw which will take place at Fifa headquarters in Switzerland. She will thus know her opponent in the semi-final, which will be played on March 26. In the event of victory, Gennaro Gattuso’s men will then play a final (March 31) on a drawn field.
