Italy to end lengthy World Cup absence when FIFA makes draw for 12 European qualifying groups for 2026 edition
The HinduThe last time Italy played at a men’s World Cup, Giorgio Chiellini was bitten by Luis Suárez and minutes later, the four-time champion was dumped out at the group stage by Uruguay. On Friday, more than a decade after that dramatic 2014 World Cup exit in Brazil, Italy sets out toward the 2026 World Cup in North America as a top-seeded nation in the 54-team draw for 12 European qualifying groups next year. It fits a pattern in Italy’s remarkably poor World Cup record since winning that fourth title in Berlin in 2006: two group-stage exits, then two failures even to qualify. Those Nations League Final Four teams cannot play World Cup qualifying games until September and must be placed Friday in a four-team qualifying group. The 12 group winners next November advance directly to the World Cup, and four more teams qualify through playoff brackets in March 2026.