Italian football has hit a historic low point this season. Across Europe, no Italian club progressed beyond the quarter‑final stage, and only Atalanta managed to reach the Champions League round of 16. Yet the domestic league’s struggles pale in comparison with the national team’s recent woes.
For the first time since 2018, Italy failed to qualify for a World Cup, missing out on a third consecutive tournament. This is a shocking development for a nation that has lifted the trophy four times. The previous two qualification failures were softened by the euphoria of winning Euro 2020 at Wembley, which gave fans a glimpse of hope.
The latest setback, however, proved decisive. 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, and legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon relinquished his role as head of delegation. "It’s a painful issue for me because missing three World Cups in a row is unacceptable, and Italy simply doesn’t deserve this," Italy captain Gianluigi Donnarumma told Sky Sports. In response, the federation turned back the clock and reinstated Roberto Mancini, the architect of the 2020 Euro triumph, as head coach.
"We must work. The only way forward is hard work," Donnarumma added.
"With a new coach and Mancini back at the helm, our aim is to rebuild and bring Italy back to its rightful place. We know how much the fans, and especially us players, crave a World Cup appearance. History teaches us that Italy belongs at the top, so we will give everything to restore that status." Indeed, Italy’s place among the elite is undeniable, but the team has been far from that level for many years. The recent World Cup debacle is just the latest chapter in a long decline that began after the 2006 triumph.
Two decades later, the penalty‑shootout victory over France remains Italy’s last knockout‑stage appearance in a World Cup, and the Azzurri have recorded only one World Cup win since – a 2‑1 victory against England in Brazil 2014. A bright spot arrived in 2012 when Italy reached the Euro final, yet the momentum faded. The root cause lies in a talent vacuum. The 2006 champions featured icons such as Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Del Piero.
By 2012, the remaining stars were Gianluigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Pirlo. Since the retirements of stalwarts like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, the pipeline of world‑class Italian players has thinned dramatically. Data from the CIES Football Observatory underscores this trend: between 2020 and 2025 Italy produced just 413 exported players, placing the nation 24th globally – behind the United States, Japan and Russia. By contrast, the other four nations in Europe’s "big five" 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 top clubs. The scarcity of elite players is reflected in the national squad.
From June 2025 to February 2026, only one capped player under the age of 24 – Inter’s forward Pio Esposito – featured for Italy, whereas England fielded a dozen youngsters in the same window. Moreover, in 2025 Italian clubs allocated a mere 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 fresh ideas. High‑profile signings such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Jamie Vardy were exceptions rather than the rule, and managerial creativity was limited. Coaches like Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri, Gattuso, Luciano Spalletti and Maurizio Sarri have rotated among the big clubs without delivering new tactical visions. Even this summer’s moves – Sarri to Atalanta and Allegri to Juventus – illustrate the stagnation.
Occasional breakthroughs do occur. Cesc Fàbregas’s work at Como, which earned the club a Champions League berth, shows how external concepts can revitalize Italian football. Similarly, Ruben Amorim’s stint at AC Milan produced an exciting brand of play for the Rossoneri, hinting at what fresh perspectives could achieve. There are encouraging signs that the tide may be turning.
Mancini’s first squad for his second spell featured several promising names. Of the 34‑player roster, nine were uncapped and eleven were under 23. Young talents such as 18‑year‑old Borussia Dortmund striker Samuele Inácio, Crystal Palace defender Honest Ahanor (soon heading to Chelsea) and Brentford’s Michael Kayode represent a nascent “young revolution.” Alongside Inácio, Inter’s rising forward Pio Esposito – who has already netted five goals in nine caps – and FC Nürnberg’s prolific striker Ali Zoma (20 goals in 36 games in Germany’s second division) add depth. Midfielder Issa Doumbia, a key figure at Sporting CP, also joins the mix.
This infusion of youth suggests a new generation of Italian stars is emerging. "We will have a blend of experienced heads and fresh faces," Donnarumma explained. "Some of us are getting older, but we remain young at heart, and many very young players are joining. We must help them integrate, because they can contribute enormously.
They are talented, they need game time, and I’m confident Italy will return to where it belongs." Italy now faces a daunting Nations League Group A, alongside Belgium, Turkey and France. Yet a nation that has lingered in obscurity for too long only needs 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 pm on Sky Sports News.