Italy hasn't played in the World Cup for 12 years. To qualify for the 2026 World Cup, they need to win two consecutive matches, with a probability of only 63%.

Did you know? Italy, a four-time World Cup winner, has been absent from the World Cup for 12 years, failing to qualify for both 2018 and 2022. In the recent qualifiers, they suffered two losses to Norway in the group phase, placing second and now must face the challenging European playoffs.

At 03:45 on March 27 Beijing time, the semifinals of the European World Cup qualifying playoffs began. Italy hosted Northern Ireland, with the winner advancing to face the victor of Wales vs. Bosnia for a spot in the 2026 USA-Canada-Mexico World Cup.

If Italy fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, they will miss three consecutive tournaments. According to predictions by Polymarket, Italy's chance of reaching the 2026 World Cup main stage is 63%.

Did you know? In the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Italy was eliminated in the group stage with one win and two losses, finishing third. Their last World Cup match was a 0-1 defeat to Uruguay. Among the starting eleven, 33-year-old Verratti was the youngest Italian player to have experienced a World Cup. Reflecting on these figures, it seems Italian football has declined significantly, including Serie A. Since leagues are the foundation of football, the decline of Serie A, weaker Italian players, and a lack of star power are the core reasons for Italy's absence from two consecutive World Cups.