Italy fails at qualifying for another World Cup.
- @thecatscradlebar
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Big hopes and dreams after waiting another 4 years for the World Cup!
Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing to
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
in a penalty shootout, marking a third
consecutive absence for the four-time world champions. This "third apocalypse" is considered a major crisis, as the team has not played in a World Cup knockout match since winning the tournament in 2006.
The team is not what it used to be, back in 1982 and their last win in 2006.
St Clair West, particularly the Italian section, will be somber and subdued this year. A location at Via Italia and St Clair, affectionately called "champions corner" because of its vibrant celebrations, will be missing its usual excitement every two years. Despite Argentina's recent victory, the extraordinary enthusiasm these games generate in the city is unparalleled, with Italy especially igniting this fervor among Italian Canadians and especially businesses.
What Happened to Italy and the World Cup?
Failed 2026 Qualification: Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UEFA play-off final following a 1-1 draw, with Alessandro Bastoni sent off in a tense match.
Historic Lows: They are the first former winner to miss three straight World Cups (2018, 2022, 2026), marking a 16-year absence from the tournament's final stages.
Reaction & Crisis: The defeat has sparked calls for the resignation of Italian soccer federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina, with officials calling for a complete overhaul of the sport in the country.
Mixed Results: Despite the failure, Italy did win the 2021 European Championship, making their inability to qualify for the World Cup even more surprising.
Next Steps: Under Coach Gennaro Gattuso, the team is facing scrutiny over its future and structural issues in developing young talent.
The atmosphere in the bar was palpable with tension. Despite high expectations, dreams were quickly dashed. It seems unlikely they will ever recover. This team is completely different from the 2006 players, and the key difference is that they're missing heart.
The games are yet to start, and we have many exciting matches to anticipate. We will be supporting our fellow teams, including Portugal, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada!
Our only hope for the future of Italy is Roberto Baggio. Baggio is famously linked to Italy's 1994 World Cup heartbreak, where his missed penalty in the final shootout against Brazil secured second place. Later, his comprehensive 900-page proposal to restructure Italian youth football was ignored by officials, aligning with Italy's subsequent decline and failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups (2018–2026)
The Ignored Reform Plan: Following Italy's disastrous 2010 World Cup, Baggio was hired by the FIGC as a technical director. He produced a 900-page program proposing 100+ federal training centers and youth development reforms, which he later said was ignored, leading to his resignation in 2013.
Current State of Italy: Italy has faced a "nightmare" era, failing to qualify for the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cups, with critics pointing to the failure to adopt long-term structural changes, such as those once proposed by
Baggio
.
Legacy: Known as "The Divine Ponytail,"
Baggio remains one of Italy's most beloved players, whose career was defined by both immense skill and, as he described it, the "never heals" wound of 1994
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