Will Italy Qualify for the 2026 FIFA Men’s Football World Cup?
Updated: Dec 3, 2025
When it comes to Men's Football World Cup, it can be a touchy subject for many Italian fans. Their national team hasn't qualified for both the 2018 and the 2022 edition. At first sight, it might appear unlikely, considering the Azzurri's rich football heritage. Beyond their world class clubs such as AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus or even AS Roma, Italy has also won four World Cup titles (1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006) and two European Championships (1968 and 2021). However, ahead of the 2026 world tournament (that will be organised in the United States, Mexico, and Canada), Italian players, once again, are in a difficult position in their group. The team hasn't managed to qualify directly yet, and will likely have to go through the European playoffs. After being eliminated by Sweden in 2018 and North Macedonia in 2022, can Italy finally break this spell in the playoff and earn their place on the world stage once again?
Since the beginning of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Italy has only lost one match and won five of them. Playing in Group I against Norway, Moldova, Estonia, and Israel, Nicolò Barella and his teammates got their only defeat against the team led by the Norwegian striker Erling Haaland (a 3–0 loss in June 2025). That result currently leaves the Azzurri second in the group because of Norway winning all of their matches. With two games remaining: in Moldova on the 13th of November, and at home against Norway on the 16th of November, Italy can mathematically still win the group and qualify directly for the World Cup. However, Norway’s big win 11–1, against Moldova in September 2025 has created a significant goal difference in Group I's ranking (+26 for Norway and +10 for Italy). For Gennaro Gattuso’s men (Italy’s coach) to finish first, they will have to win both of their remaining matches. At the same time, Norway would need to lose to Estonia, or, if Haaland and his teammates win, they would need to loose by a 10 goal difference against Italy.
It’s not impossible, but certainly difficult for la Squadra Azzurra. The entire nation will be watching, and hoping that their players can finally return to the world football stage. Otherwise, their last chance will be in March, through the European playoffs.