For the Italian national football team, the road to the FIFA World Cup 2026 in America, Canada, and Mexico is shaping up to be a familiar, nail-biting affair. Following a qualifying campaign marked by flashes of brilliance and disconcerting stumbles, the Azzurri are almost certainly destined for the treacherous playoff path. It’s a route etched deep in the collective memory of Italian football, a path that has, in recent history, led to heartbreak rather than glory.
Echoes of Past Playoff Nightmares
The phrase “the beautiful part starts now” rings with an uncomfortable irony for Italian fans. It implies excitement, a fresh beginning. Yet, for many, it`s a stark reminder of the painful exits from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups – both sealed in the unforgiving arena of the playoffs. The prospect of repeating those agonising failures looms large, a specter that haunts every tackle, every pass, every shot.
While the Azzurri managed to dispatch weaker teams in their qualifying group with varying degrees of difficulty (a memorable 5-4 against Israel comes to mind), they stumbled significantly against their only truly strong opponent, Norway. This performance gap reinforces the anxiety: against top-tier competition, Italy still appears vulnerable. The recent 3-0 victory against Israel, though numerically emphatic, still highlighted defensive concerns, with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma making crucial saves at critical moments.
Gattuso`s Pragmatism: A New Hope?
At the helm, Gennaro Gattuso, a man synonymous with grit and determination, has brought a much-needed dose of “normality and pragmatism” to the national squad. His approach is refreshingly direct and logical. Lacking high-level wingers or attacking midfielders, Gattuso has opted for a dual-striker formation, maximizing the impact of natural goal-scorers like Kean, Retegui, and the emerging Esposito. It`s a pragmatic response to the tools at his disposal, aiming to restore a sense of order and directness that was perhaps missing previously.
This tactical clarity, however, is merely a foundation. As the saying goes, “common sense at the service of the National team.” The question remains: will it be enough? The playoffs are a brutal, unforgiving format where tactical nuances and individual brilliance must coalesce under immense pressure.
Squad Strength: A Blend of Talent and Potential
Despite the skepticism, a core of optimism persists. Italy possesses a group of undeniably talented players. Gianluigi Donnarumma is widely considered among the world`s elite goalkeepers. In defense, Alessandro Bastoni and Riccardo Calafiori are developing into international-level defenders. The midfield boasts European stalwarts like Nicolò Barella and Sandro Tonali. And upfront, options like Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, Gianluca Scamacca, and the promising Sebastiano Esposito offer genuine attacking threats. Supporting these, players like Dimarco, Politano, Di Lorenzo, Mancini, Buongiorno, and Scalvini round out a respectable squad.
The consensus seems to be that Italy is not the dominant force of yesteryear, but neither are they as bereft of talent as some commentators, or even their own recent results, might suggest. The issue often lies in consistently translating individual quality into cohesive, winning team performances.
The Playoff Path: A Minefield of Challenges
The immediate future involves a semifinal and, hopefully, a final playoff match in March. While Italy might face theoretically weaker opponents in the initial stages – the “ghosts of the past” in teams like Sweden or North Macedonia – the final could be a different beast entirely. Potential away trips to tough venues in Scotland, Slovakia, Albania, or Hungary promise hostile environments where every advantage must be seized. Winning on foreign soil against determined opposition is never a trivial task, and for a team that hasn`t played in a World Cup final phase for over eleven years, the stakes couldn`t be higher.
The journey to the World Cup 2026 is far from over for Italy. It`s a narrative woven with hope, anxiety, and a pragmatic determination under Gattuso. The Azzurri possess the talent and, arguably, the right approach. Now, they must demonstrate the mental fortitude and ruthless efficiency required to navigate the perilous playoff gauntlet and finally reclaim their place on football`s biggest stage. The beautiful part? It`s indeed about to begin, and for Italy, it needs to be beautiful enough to erase the bitter memories of recent pasts.
Benedict Kingsley 
Adrian Whitmore