Italy fails to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.

Italy Fails to Qualify for the World Cup Again: Three Generations of Disappointment That Have Marked the History of Italian Football… But in the Worst Possible Way!

Italian football is in the midst of a deep and historic crisis. For the third consecutive time, Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup, leaving an entire nation desolate and questioning the future of the “Azzurra.” Since their last appearance in 2014, with a title won in 2006 under the management of Marcello Lippi, this dark cycle seems to have no end. Let’s analyze the three teams that, unfortunately, have entered history but for the worst reasons.

On the fateful night of Tuesday, the defeat against modest Bosnia and Herzegovina in the final World Cup play-off confirmed a nightmare that has lasted almost a decade. Italy has not stepped onto a World Cup stage since Brazil 2014, and the last time they played in a knockout stage was nearly 20 years ago, when they lifted the most coveted trophy in world football. Now, this repeated absence imposes a painful reflection on the mistakes and failures that have come at a high cost.

Let us recall the beginning of this downfall: in 2017, with Giampiero Ventura at the helm, Italy fell in the play-offs against Sweden, losing 1-0 on aggregate in a two-legged tie. At the time, it seemed surreal, almost unimaginable for a powerhouse of world football. Four years later, the format changed — the play-off became a semi-final and final stage — and under the guidance of Roberto Mancini, the “Squadra Azzurra” was eliminated in the semi-finals by the unassuming North Macedonia. Had they advanced, they would have faced a tough away match against Portugal.

The most recent qualifying round, in 2026, under the leadership of Gennaro Gattuso, saw Italy reach the final of the play-off but lose on penalties to a team ranked only 65th in the FIFA rankings. A tremendous shock for Italian pride, which sees one of its greatest symbols, Gianluigi Donnarumma, among the protagonists of these historic defeats.

These were the line-ups that failed to qualify for the World Cup, representing three distinct chapters of an unprecedented crisis:

2018 (Coach: Giampiero Ventura)

– Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Candreva (Bernardeschi 76′), Parolo, Jorginho, Florenzi, Darmian (El Shaarawy 64′); Immobile, Gabbiadini (Belotti 64′).

2022 (Coach: Roberto Mancini) – Donnarumma; Florenzi, Mancini (Chiellini 89′), Bastoni, Emerson; Barella (Tonali 77′), Jorginho, Verratti; Berardi (Joao Pedro 89′), Immobile (Pellegrini 77′), Insigne.

2026 (Coach: Gennaro Gattuso) – Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano (Palestra 46′), Barella (Frattesi 85′), Locatelli (Cristante 71′), Tonali, Dimarco (Spinazzola 91′); Kean (Esposito 71′), Retegui (Gatti 44′).

Each of these teams had talent and potential, but the inability to respond to pressure and the most significant challenges condemned Italy to an unprecedented absence in modern football. This dark cycle is not just a sporting defeat; it is a genuine structural crisis that demands profound changes in the federation, in training, and in the mentality of Italian football.

Italy is on the ground, and its recovery will be a titanic battle. For the millions of “azzurri” fans spread across the world, the hope is that this historic humiliation serves as a turning point to rebuild a slumbering giant. Until then, the World Cup will remain a distant dream for one of football’s greatest powers.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.