It is yet another World Cup that Italy will not take part in. It marks the third tournament in a row that the four-time winners have failed to qualify. Not since 2024 have the Azzurri featured in the sport’s biggest occasion. That is quite shocking, considering it is only 20 years since an Italian held the Jules Rimet aloft.
However, it is not just the national team that is currently experiencing something of a nadir. On the domestic side of things, Juve have plummeted from being the cream of the crop to being a side that is there or thereabouts in the European chase. It is a far cry from the 2010s, when they won all but two of the Scudetti available.
The Zebras haven’t won a Scudetto since the 19/20 season and have had to make do with a couple of Coppa Italias in that timeframe. Ultimately, Italy’s struggles appear to be somewhat aligned with Juve’s own, so could a return to the top of Serie A for the country’s most successful club in domestic competition help in World Cup qualification?
An Extended World Cup Couldn’t Save Italy’s Hopes
Perhaps the most disappointing element of Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup is that the tournament has been expanded to 48 teams. Even with this expansion, the Azzurri failed to make the grade, having to watch on as sides like Curacao – 500/1 in the World Cup 2026 odds – take to the biggest stage for the first time in their history.
It is a national shame that Gennaro Gattuso could not guide his side past an ageing Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoffs. It can be argued that coming second to Norway is no real disappointment, given that they possess possibly the world’s best striker and a real selection of exceptional talent. However, to labour past Northern Ireland and fall to a 40-year-old Edin Dzeko in the playoffs is disastrous.
From a Juve perspective, only Manuel Locatelli was involved in the playoff final. The midfielder was hauled off with 70 minutes of the final gone, unable to inspire creativity in a side that had to replace its striker with a defender due to a red card for Alessandro Bastoni. What is extremely disheartening for the Old Lady is that a dearth of Italian stars in the side meant that there was only one representative from Turin on the pitch.
Where Have All the Italian Stars Gone in Turin?
Only Locatelli and Federico Gatti would be named part of the Italian squad for the playoffs, and it is evidence of a distinct lack of domestic talent on the books at Juventus. When the Azzurri triumphed over England in Euro 2020, there were double that number. At the 2006 World Cup, there were five, and not a single member played outside of Serie A. In fact, despite the 2014 World Cup not being the most successful, crumbling at the group stage, there were six Juve players in the squad.
When you look at those on the books at Juventus Stadium, only seven of the first-team squad are Italian, and even fewer would be considered top talents. It is no wonder that the team has struggled to compete for the top honours, or even to be amongst the elite of Europe. There are a few bona fide stars of any nationality in the squad.
So it is not just domestic stars that are lacking. However, that could be a thing of the past if recent reports are to be believed. While it looks like the club could be losing one of its biggest stars in Kenan Yildiz, there are rumours that both Emi Martinez and Alisson Becker are on the radar, as well as Kim-Jin Mae from Bayern. These are all genuine world-class performers.
A Return to Success Could Aid Youth Development
If the club chiefs can attain the signatures of players of this calibre, it would represent a huge step towards achieving the success that has eluded Juve for much of the 2020s. It would also provide a shot in the arm to those making their name at the club as young professionals.
A Serie A title and more experienced operators to lean on could be what the next crop of Italian stars at the club needs, and could help build a new national team that regularly qualifies for the World Cup. Only time will tell.
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