Cannavaro warns: Italy risks losing its football culture.

Fabio Cannavaro, an icon of Italian football and winner of the 2006 World Cup, has issued a stark warning about the current state of football in Italy. In statements that resonate like a cry for help, the former defender expressed his concern that the nation may be on the brink of squandering a footballing culture that has been admired worldwide for decades.

With the Azzurri facing an unprecedented crisis, Cannavaro did not hesitate to state that Italy “risks throwing away our footballing culture, which has long been envied by the entire world.” The Italian national team, once synonymous with excellence in football, failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup editions and now finds itself forced to fight through the qualifiers, starting with a semifinal match against Northern Ireland scheduled for Thursday.

The current scenario is bleak. Under the management of Gennaro Gattuso, also a 2006 champion, Italy is attempting to reverse a negative cycle. Gattuso took over in June 2025 after the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti, who left the team in a critical situation following a painful 3-0 defeat to Norway. The history of losses, including a humiliating 4-1 home defeat, has left Italy in a precarious position in the standings.

Cannavaro, who became a symbol of the 2006 triumph, reflected on the emotional impact of winning the World Cup. “Winning a World Cup is the dream of every player, of all ages and eras. As the years go by, you appreciate that success even more,” he emphasized in an interview with The Mirror. He recalled that the victory in Berlin against France turned the 2006 team into legends, a status that is now amplified by the crisis that Italian football is facing.

Although the Azzurri have failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, Cannavaro noted that the team has still won titles, such as the trophy for the EURO 2020, showing that the tradition of Italian football is not entirely lost. However, the future of the national team is uncertain, and the pressure to shine again on the international stage is palpable.

The next challenge, facing Northern Ireland, is crucial. The winner of the matchup will face Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff final, where only one spot will be available for the much-anticipated 2026 tournament, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

With Cannavaro’s words echoing in the minds of fans and players, Italy faces a decisive moment, where not only the future of the national team but the very essence of Italian football is at stake. The nation eagerly hopes that the Azzurri can regain the lost glory and reaffirm their position as a powerhouse in the world of football.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.