Italy Misses Third Consecutive World Cup: A History of Disappointment
The curse of the playoffs has struck Italy once again. Having missed the previous two FIFA World Cups (2018, 2022), the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2026 tournament, eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina. This latest setback adds another chapter to a history of painful disappointments for a nation that has won the competition four times.
“Veni, vidi, vici” – “I came, I saw, I conquered.” The famous Latin phrase attributed to Julius Caesar once perfectly encapsulated the Italian national football team. That is no longer the case. The playoff curse has once again haunted Italy, who will now miss a third consecutive World Cup. Like in 2018 against Sweden and 2022 against North Macedonia, Italy fell in the playoffs, this time to Bosnia and Herzegovina (ranked 66th in the FIFA rankings as of March 31, 2026) after a grueling penalty shootout (1-1 after extra time, 4-1 on penalties).
This has become a disheartening pattern for Italy, a four-time World Cup champion and two-time European champion. But the shock for a nation passionate about calcio is hard to bear, as summarized by the Italian press on Wednesday, April 1st: “Another historic defeat for Italian football,” lamented La Gazzetta dello Sport. Even in France, there’s little joy in Italy’s misfortune, though the team did cause French fans heartache in 2006 by winning the World Cup against Les Bleus 5-3 on penalties (1-1 after extra time) and sending Zinedine Zidane into retirement after his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the final. Twenty years later, Italy has fallen into despair.
And this isn’t the first time the Squadra Azzurra has experienced a major setback. There’s the prestige of four World Cup titles, but also the dark pages that Italian fans would prefer to forget. Since 1966, the Italian national team has endured several spectacular exits from the World Cup. Here’s a appear back at five historic failures, sometimes humiliating, always memorable.
1. 1966: The North Korean Dentist Who Toppled a Giant
July 19, 1966, Middlesbrough, England, became the scene of one of the biggest upsets in football history. Italy, the two-time World Cup champions, faced the mysterious North Korea. Facing them was Pak Doo-ik, a soldier… and a dentist in civilian life.
Italy believed it was a formality. It turned into a national trauma: a 1-0 defeat, elimination in the group stage, and a return to Rome greeted by jeers. It’s said the players were pelted with tomatoes upon their arrival at the airport. This failure remained a taboo subject for a long time, almost erased from official memory before being rehabilitated as a lesson in humility.
2. 2002: The Red Night of Daejeon: The Refereeing That Unleashed Italy
The Round of 16 match of the 2002 World Cup. On June 18, facing co-host South Korea, Italy struggled but took a 1-0 lead. But one name would change the course of the match and still sends shivers down the spines of Italians: Byron Moreno, the Ecuadorian referee of a match that has gone down in history. A harsh red card for Totti, a golden goal disallowed for Tommasi, fouls not called… and what was bound to happen, happened: Ahn Jung-Hwan scored in extra time, giving South Korea a 2-1 victory and sending Italy home.
This elimination, shrouded in controversy over the refereeing, remains a trauma in Italy. Moreno, later involved in legal troubles, became a hated figure throughout Italy.
3. 2010: A Zero-Point Performance for the Reigning Champions
Italy arrived in South Africa in 2010 basking in the glory of their 2006 title. Yet, coach Marcello Lippi recalled his former players (De Rossi, Gattuso, Pirlo, among others), ignored creative talent, and the machine sputtered. Their group included Paraguay, Slovakia, and New Zealand. The result: zero wins, uninspired play, and a humiliating defeat to Slovakia (2-3). The Azzurri finished last in a group where they were expected to dominate. A dismal exit, symbolizing a poorly managed cycle and a team stuck in the past.
4. 2018: The Shockwave at San Siro, Sweden, and Chaos
Italy had already missed out on the 2018 World Cup, won by France. In November 2017, they faced Sweden in a two-legged playoff. A 1-0 defeat in Solna was followed by a tense 0-0 draw at San Siro. The entire country held its breath, then understood. Italy missed the World Cup in Russia.
An earthquake. A national disgrace. Coach Ventura resigned in pain. Buffon left the field in tears, symbolizing a brutal end to an era. Italy hadn’t missed a World Cup since 1958…
5. 2022: North Macedonia, the Stab in the Back in Palermo
Four years after the 2018 disaster, Italy was the champion of Europe in 2021, reborn and inspired. And yet…
The playoff match in Palermo against North Macedonia. The script seemed written: total domination, numerous missed chances. Then, in the 92nd minute, a shot from nowhere: Aleksandar Trajkovski sent Italy to hell. The final score: 0-1. Italy missed two consecutive World Cups, an unthinkable feat for a nation of its caliber. Since then, it’s been clear that this team can win with flair, but also collapse spectacularly.
The failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup continues this painful trend. The road to recovery for Italian football will undoubtedly be long and arduous, but the passion of the tifosi will remain unwavering. The question now is: can the Azzurri rediscover their winning formula and return to the world stage?
What’s Next: Italy will now focus on rebuilding for the future, with a new generation of players hoping to restore the nation’s footballing pride. The next European Championship qualifying matches will be a crucial test of their progress.
What are your thoughts on Italy’s latest World Cup heartbreak? Share your opinions in the comments below!
