Italian football has hit a historic low point this season. Across Europe, no Serie A side progressed beyond the quarter‑final stage, and only Atalanta managed to break into the Champions League round of 16. Yet the domestic struggles pale in comparison with the disaster that befell the national team. For the first time since 2018, Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, missing out on a third consecutive tournament.
This is a shocking outcome for a country that has lifted the trophy on four occasions. The previous two qualification failures were softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 at Wembley, a triumph that offered a brief glimpse of hope. The latest flop, however, was the final straw.
The 48‑team World Cup did not feature Italy, prompting a cascade of resignations: head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down, Italian FA president Gabriele Gravina quit his post, and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon relinquished his role as head of delegation. "It’s a painful subject for me because not qualifying for three World Cups in a row is terrible, and Italy simply doesn’t deserve this," captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports. In response, the federation turned back the clock and reinstated Roberto Mancini, the manager who guided the Azzurri to Euro glory five years ago. "We have to work.
The only way forward is to work," Donnarumma added. "With the change of coach and the return of Mr. Mancini, our goal is to rebuild and bring Italy back to the place it deserves. I know it’s not easy for the fans, but especially for us, because we understand how much it means to compete in a tournament like the World Cup.
We will give everything to restore Italy to its rightful position. History teaches us that Italy should always be present at the biggest stages, so we must make that happen again." Indeed, Italy belongs among the elite, but it has been far from that level for several years.
The latest World Cup debacle is just the most recent chapter in a long decline that began after the 2006 triumph. Two decades have passed since that dramatic penalty‑shootout victory over France, which remains Italy’s last appearance in a World Cup knockout round. Since then, the Azzurri have recorded only one World Cup win – a 2‑1 success against England in Brazil 2014.
There was a bright spot in 2012, when Italy reached the Euro final, but the team has never recovered its former consistency. Multiple factors explain this downturn. First, the pipeline of world‑class talent has dried up.
The 2006 squad featured icons such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero. By 2012, the same generation persisted through Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo, but the retirement of stalwarts like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci left a void that the next generation has struggled to fill.
Data from the CIES Football Observatory underscores the problem: between 2020 and 2025 Italy exported only 413 players abroad, ranking 24th globally – behind the United States, Japan and Russia. The other four nations in Europe’s "big five" leagues each sent more than 1,000 players overseas in the same period. Italian talent, whether seasoned or emerging, simply isn’t as coveted by the continent’s top clubs. The scarcity of high‑quality Italian players is reflected in the national team’s composition.
From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player was under 24 – Inter’s promising forward Pio Esposito – whereas England fielded a dozen youngsters in that window. Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated just 1.9 % of Serie A minutes to players under 21, the second‑lowest figure among the world’s top 50 leagues, surpassed only by the UAE Pro League. Serie A itself suffered from a lack of youthful dynamism.
While veteran stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy were signed to boost the league’s profile, there was little creative renewal from the managerial side. Coaches like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri rotated among the top clubs with little variation in tactics. Even this summer’s moves – Sarri to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus – illustrate a stagnant coaching carousel. Occasionally, fresh ideas break through the monotony.
Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como sparked a remarkable turnaround that culminated in Champions League qualification, while Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced eye‑catching football for the Rossoneri. These examples show how external tactical influences can rejuvenate Italian football.
There are signs that a generational shift may be underway. Mancini’s first squad selection featured several encouraging newcomers. Out of a 34‑player roster, nine were uncapped and eleven were under 23.
Among them were Borussia Dortmund’s 18‑year‑old striker Samuele Inacio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor (soon to join Chelsea), and Brentford forward Michael Kayode – all part of a budding "young revolution." Additionally, Inter’s rising star Pio Esposito, who has already netted five goals in nine appearances for Italy, joins the likes of FC Nürnberg’s prolific scorer Ali Zoma (20 goals in 36 games in Germany’s second division) and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia. These players represent a new wave of Italian talent eager to prove themselves on the international stage. "There will certainly be some established players. We’re getting older, but we’re still young, and there will also be some very young players joining the team," Donnarumma explained.
"It will be a mixture, and we need to help these young players integrate well. They can give us a great deal of help. They’re certainly talented players who need to play and gain experience, but I’m sure Italy will return to where it belongs." Italy now faces a daunting Nations League group, sharing Group A with Belgium, Turkey and France – a test that will demand both experience and youthful vigor.
After years of darkness, the Azzurri need just one spark to reignite their fortunes. For a deeper analysis of Italy’s recent struggles and a preview of Roberto Mancini’s second spell, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports News.