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Italy's National Team Faces Continued Struggles, Missing World Cup Again

KVIA•Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 12:07 AM•CNN Newsource

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The Italian national football team is experiencing a significant crisis, failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Despite being a four-time world champion, Italy's recent performances have been disappointing, with the team unable to secure a spot after a poor showing in the qualifiers. The departure of coach Roberto Mancini and the subsequent hiring of Luciano Spalletti did not yield the expected improvements, leading to Italy's elimination in the playoffs against Bosnia. The decline in Italian football is attributed to a lack of young talent development and economic challenges within Serie A, which has lost its status as a premier league. This marks another missed opportunity for Italy, who last participated in a World Cup in 2014.

Key Details: • Italy last played in a World Cup in 2014. • Failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup after losing to Norway and Bosnia. • Roberto Mancini was replaced by Luciano Spalletti, but results did not improve. • Italian football struggles with youth development and economic issues in Serie A.

football sports world-cup italy serie-a

People & Organizations

ItalyNorwayErling HaalandRoberto ManciniLuciano SpallettiGennaro GattusoSerie A

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