Italy conclude their Group I campaign in UEFA’s World Cup qualifying section this month.
The Azzurri have gone through a turbulent qualification process in 2025, during which Luciano Spalletti was replaced by Gennaro Gattuso as head coach after a one-sided defeat to Erling Haaland’s Norway.
After shock failures to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 finals, in between which they won the European Championship, the pressure on Italy to reach the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico next year is intense. As one of the most successful nations in the competition’s history, missing out on the newly expanded 48-team event would represent a monumental embarrassment.
The Sporting News examines the state of play of Italy’s qualification hopes.
MORE: How Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
Have Italy qualified for World Cup 2026?
As of matchday nine of the UEFA qualifying section, Italy have not yet secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
They sit second in Group I, three points behind Norway, who won all six of their opening games. Those two meet on the final matchday, and if the three-point gap remains by that point, Italy would have to win by an implausible margin to overtake Norway in the table.
At this stage, it is far more likely that their route to the finals next year will come via the playoffs in March.
MORE: All you need to know about how UEFA’s World Cup qualifying section works
Italy World Cup qualifying results, fixtures
Italy have two games left in Group I:
- Thursday, November 13: Moldova vs. Italy
- Sunday, November 16: Italy vs. Norway
Italy World Cup 2026 qualifying results
| Date | Match | Venue |
| June 6, 2025 | Norway 3-0 Italy | Ullevaal Stadion (Oslo, Norway) |
| June 9, 2025 | Italy 2-0 Moldova | Mapei Stadium (Reggio Emilia, Italy) |
| September 5, 2025 | Italy 5-0 Estonia | New Balance Arena (Bergamo, Italy) |
| September 8, 2025 | Israel 4-5 Italy | Nagyerdei Stadion (Debrecen, Hungary) |
| October 11, 2025 | Estonia 1-3 Italy | A. Le Coq Arena (Tallinn, Estonia) |
| October 14, 2025 | Italy 3-0 Israel | Bluenergy Stadium (Udine, Italy) |
| November 13, 2025 | Moldova vs. Italy | Zimbru Stadium (Chisinau, Moldova) |
| November 16, 2025 | Italy vs. Norway | San Siro (Milan, Italy) |
Italy World Cup record
Italy have won the FIFA World Cup four times (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006). Only Brazil (five) have won the tournament more often.
The Azzurri have qualified for 18 of the 2022 tournaments in history. They did not enter the inaugural edition in 1930, and they failed to qualify in 1954, 2018, and 2022.
Italy record at the World Cup
| Year | Stage reached | Host nation |
| 1930 | Did not enter | Uruguay |
| 1934 | Won | Italy |
| 1938 | Won | France |
| 1950 | Group stage | Brazil |
| 1954 | Group stage | Switzerland |
| 1958 | Did not qualify | Sweden |
| 1962 | Group stage | Chile |
| 1966 | Group stage | England |
| 1970 | Runners-up | Mexico |
| 1974 | Group stage | West Germany |
| 1978 | Fourth place | Argentina |
| 1982 | Won | Spain |
| 1986 | Round of 16 | Mexico |
| 1990 | Third place | Italy |
| 1994 | Runners-up | United States |
| 1998 | Quarterfinals | France |
| 2002 | Round of 16 | Japan and South Korea |
| 2006 | Won | Germany |
| 2010 | Group stage | South Africa |
| 2014 | Group stage | Brazil |
| 2018 | Did not qualify | Russia |
| 2022 | Did not qualify | Qatar |
MORE: Revisiting the 1930 World Cup — the start of a sporting revolution
Italy World Cup schedule
Should they qualify, Italy’s schedule at the 2026 will not be known until the World Cup draw, when the six groups are decided and pathways to the final become clearer.
When is the World Cup draw?
The draw for the 2026 World Cup takes place in Washington, D.C. on Friday, December 5.
The ceremony is due to start at 12 p.m. local time (ET).
