Italian National Team Under Heavy Pressure

The draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was held on Friday. So far, the Italian national team has not secured a spot in the tournament.

In March, the Italian team will face Northern Ireland in the playoff semi-finals to qualify for the World Cup. If victorious, they will compete in the final match against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

If "Squadra Azzurra" succeeds, it will mark their return to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014. Their group stage opponents are expected to be Canada, Qatar, and Switzerland.

"We have missed two consecutive World Cups – this undeniably puts us under significant pressure. We respect all opponents, but we must not fear anyone.

The semi-final offers 90 minutes of play, and we need to prepare for it fully. Securing a spot in the tournament's final stage is extremely important for all of Italian football.

In the recent past, it was hard to imagine missing two consecutive World Cups. We need to put all our efforts into achieving success," Gennaro Gattuso said in an interview with Get Italian Football News.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in June and July in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Read “Zamin” on Telegram!