Following over a decade since that decisive exit from the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Italy is presently preparing for the 2026 World Cup in North America, securing a top seed in the 54-team draw for the twelve European qualifying groups planned for next year.
FIFA will conduct a complex draw in Zurich to determine how 16 European teams will qualify for the inaugural 48-team World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Italy has not returned to the World Cup stage due to surprising defeats in qualifying playoffs against Sweden in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2022, both of which occurred on home soil.
“We need to rise to the occasion,” stated Italy coach Luciano Spalletti this week. “Wearing the national team jersey is significant. Consider how many fans we have abroad, some waiting for hours just to catch a glimpse of our bus.”
For those under 15 years old, there is likely no memory of Italy competing in a World Cup.
The 2014 squad featured legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, a formidable defense led by Chiellini, and forward Mario Balotelli, who managed to defeat England but ultimately finished behind Uruguay and Costa Rica in the group standings.
This pattern reflects Italy's disappointing World Cup history since claiming their fourth title in Berlin in 2006, which includes two group-stage exits and two failures to qualify.
While Spalletti's team underperformed at the European Championship in June, where they were eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16, their subsequent match—a 3-1 victory over France in Paris—showcased their potential in the Nations League this season.
“We’ve demonstrated signs of promise that give us confidence in our ability to succeed,” Spalletti remarked.
The Nations League program significantly influenced the draw on Friday, which will be somewhat ambiguous due to placeholder positions. Italy will remain uncertain about its group placement until March.
Among the 12 top-seeded teams, eight will compete in the Nations League quarterfinals, scheduled for March 20 and 23. This includes a match between Italy and Germany. The winners will progress to the Nations League Final Four mini-tournament in June.
The teams that reach the Nations League Final Four will not participate in World Cup qualifying matches until September and will be assigned to a four-team qualifying group during Friday's draw. There will be six groups consisting of four teams and six groups with five teams, with matches commencing in March.
Consequently, the draw on Friday will need to incorporate two placeholders for “Italy or Germany,” two for “Netherlands or Spain,” two for “Croatia or France,” and two for “Denmark or Portugal.”
Greater clarity will emerge from the groups led by the other top-seeded teams: England, Belgium, Switzerland, and Austria.
The 12 group winners in November will secure direct entry to the World Cup, while an additional four teams will qualify through playoff brackets in March 2026.
World Cup qualifying group seedings are as follows:
- Pot 1: Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria.
- Pot 2: Ukraine, Turkey, Sweden, Wales, Hungary, Serbia, Poland, Greece, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Norway.
- Pot 3: Scotland, Slovenia, Ireland, Albania, North Macedonia, Georgia, Finland, Iceland, Northern Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Israel.
- Pot 4: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Belarus, Kosovo, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Cyprus, Faroe Islands, Latvia, Lithuania.
- Pot 5: Moldova, Malta, Andorra, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino.