Italian football has hit a historic low point this season, and the repercussions have been felt at every level of the game. In European competition, no Italian side managed to progress beyond the quarter‑final stage, and the only club to even reach the Champions League round of 16 was Atalanta. Yet the domestic league’s struggles pale in comparison to the national team’s calamity.
For the first time since 2018, Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, marking a third consecutive absence from the tournament. This is a shocking development for a country that has lifted the trophy four times and is traditionally regarded as a footballing powerhouse.
The first two qualification failures were softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 on home soil, a triumph that at least gave the nation a glimmer of hope. The latest miss, however, was a decisive blow: a 48‑team World Cup that did not feature the Azzurri.
The fallout was swift and severe. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso stepped down, Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina resigned, and even legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who had been serving as the team’s delegation head, left his post. "It’s a painful subject for me because missing three World Cups in a row is unacceptable, and Italy simply doesn’t deserve this," captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports, his voice heavy with disappointment.
In a surprising twist, the federation turned back to Roberto Mancini, the architect of the 2020 European Championship victory, appointing him for a second spell at the helm. "We have to work. The only way forward is to work," Donnarumma reiterated, echoing the new coach’s mantra.
"There’s a change in leadership, the return of Mr. Mancini, and our objective is to rebuild and bring Italy back to where it belongs." The captain’s words reflected a deep sense of responsibility. "We know how much it means to our fans and to us to compete in a World Cup. History teaches us that Italy should always be present on that stage, so we must do everything we can to restore that place," he added.
Italy’s place among Europe’s elite is undeniable, but the team has been far from that level for several years. The World Cup disaster is merely the latest chapter in a long decline that began after the 2006 triumph. Two decades have passed since Italy won a penalty shoot‑out against France, and that remains the last time the Azzurri reached the knockout phase of a World Cup. Since then, the national side has recorded only a single World Cup victory – a 2‑1 win over England in Brazil 2014.
The 2012 European Championship run, which saw Italy finish as runners‑up, was a brief resurgence, but the subsequent years have been marked by inconsistency and a lack of fresh talent. The golden generation of the early 2000s featured icons such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero. By 2012, many of those legends were still active – Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo – but the retirement of stalwarts like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci has left a void that the younger cohort has struggled to fill.
Data from the CIES Football Observatory highlights the depth of the problem. Between 2020 and 2025 Italy produced just 413 exported players, ranking 24th worldwide and trailing nations such as the United States, Japan and Russia. By contrast, the other four major European leagues each exported over 1,000 players in the same period. Italian talent, whether seasoned or emerging, simply isn’t as coveted by the continent’s elite clubs.
The shortage of high‑quality domestic players is evident in the national squad as well. From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player under the age of 24 – Inter’s promising forward Pio Esposito – featured for Italy, while England boasted a dozen youngsters in the same window. Moreover, in 2025 Italy allocated a mere 1.9 percent of Serie A playing 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’s own decline contributed to the problem. While clubs made headline‑grabbing signings such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy, the league suffered from a lack of creativity and fresh tactical ideas.
Managers like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri have rotated among the top clubs, often delivering similar styles of play. This homogeneity stifled innovation.
Occasionally, an outsider’s influence sparked a revival. Cesc Fàbregas’s appointment at Como led to a remarkable Champions League qualification, demonstrating how new tactical perspectives can break the cycle. Likewise, Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced eye‑catching football, suggesting that fresh ideas can rejuvenate Italian clubs.
There are signs that the national team may be turning a corner. Mancini’s first squad after his reappointment featured a blend of experience and youth: a 34‑player roster that included nine uncapped players and eleven under‑23s.
Among the newcomers were 18‑year‑old Borussia Dortmund striker Samuele Inácio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor (who is set to join Chelsea), and Brentford’s Michael Kayode – all part of a nascent "young revolution." The emerging talent pool also boasts Inter’s forward Pio Esposito, who has already netted five goals in nine appearances for Italy, FC Nürnberg’s Ali Zoma with 20 goals in 36 games in Germany’s second division, and Sporting CP midfielder Issa Doumbia, who has become a key figure for his club. These players signal a new generation of Italian stars ready to make an impact. "There will certainly be some established players. We’re getting older, but we’re still young, and there will also be 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 talented and need experience, but I’m confident Italy will return to where it belongs." Italy’s upcoming Nations League group presents a stern test, featuring Belgium, Turkey and France in a highly competitive Group A. Yet a nation that has lingered in the shadows for so long needs only a single spark to reignite its fortunes.
For a deeper look at Italy’s challenges and a preview of Mancini’s second tenure, tune in to The World Football Show this Thursday at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports News. The program will feature expert analysis, player interviews, and a detailed breakdown of how the Azzurri can reclaim their place among football’s elite.