Once a dominant force in international soccer, Italy now risks a third straight World Cup absence amid growing pressure and playoff danger.
When was the last time Italy’s men’s soccer team played in a World Cup?
Only five-time winners Brazil have lifted the FIFA World Cup more often than Italy, one of two countries, alongside Germany, to have won soccer’s most prestigious tournament on four occasions. Yet the Italians, who won the European Championship in 2021, have deeply unhappy recent memories of the World Cup, which could be about to get even bleaker.
Italy: A fading giant
Traditionally, the Azzurri have been one of world soccer’s strongest national teams. Italy was the first country to win back-to-back World Cups in 1934 and 1938 and has been among the favorites to win most editions throughout the tournament’s history. Italy added victories in 1982 and 2006, although its record since that last triumph has become a source of national embarrassment.
Italy’s World Cup–winning lineup from 2006. 🇮🇹🏆 pic.twitter.com/8fpg6viFH7
— Score 90 (@Score90_) March 4, 2026
Most Italians did not think things could get any worse than meek group-stage exits in 2010, when they failed to win a game against Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia, and 2014, when they beat England but lost to both Uruguay and Costa Rica.
They were wrong.
Italy’s World Cup exile begins
Italy has not featured in the World Cup since Brazil 2014, following up an unthinkable non-qualification for Russia 2018 with another failure for Qatar 2022.
After being well beaten to automatic qualification for the 2018 World Cup by Spain, Italy were handed a second chance in a two-legged playoff against Sweden. A 1-0 loss in Stockholm set up a must-win second leg at San Siro, which ultimately ended goalless. It was the first time in 60 years Italy had failed to qualify.
Lightning surely could not strike twice, could it?
Penalties, missed chances and fine margins
Italy went unbeaten in 2022 World Cup qualifying, but two crucial slip-ups handed Switzerland automatic qualification for the finals. Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Jorginho missed a last-minute penalty that would have secured a win against the Swiss in the penultimate qualifier, three days before a goalless draw in Northern Ireland allowed Switzerland to jump to the top of the group at the 11th hour.
A revamped format meant a possible playoff final against Portugal or Turkey looked daunting, but Italy failed to make it that far, shockingly losing the semifinal at home to North Macedonia. It was an all-time low for the Italian national team.
Another disaster for Italy
Italy has missed out on a third World Cup in succession. Rino Gattuso’s team again finished second in its qualifying group, suffering three-goal defeats to Erling Haaland’s unstoppable Norway side along the way.
Despite beating Northern Ireland, Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in penalties, another banana skin the Italians have slipped on in 2026.
Almost unbelievably, it has been 12 years since Italy last graced the FIFA World Cup and they’ll have to wait another four years now until they get another chance.
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