Iran confirms 2026 World Cup participation despite venue relocation request
Iran confirmed for 2026 World Cup with U.S. matches after FIFA rejected relocation request.
Event / Sports
2026 FIFA World Cup Travel Issues
Multiple travel disruptions affecting the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada, including visa denials for players, officials, journalists, and fans from several nations facing Trump administration restrictions.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 27 Mar, 12:06 UTC
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What happened
Gennaro Gattuso appointed Italy national team manager in June 2024
Gennaro Gattuso was appointed as head coach of the Italian national team in June 2024, replacing Luciano Spalletti following Italy's 3-0 defeat in Oslo during World Cup qualifying openers.
FIGC appoints first technical director in 2025
The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) appointed its first technical director in 2025, addressing long-standing concerns about youth development and technical training systems.
Italy ranked 12th in FIFA world rankings
Italy is currently ranked 12th in the FIFA world rankings, following a significant drop to 21st place in August 2018.
FIGC launches coach training program for youth football
The FIGC unveiled a training program for coaches responsible for 700,000 youth players aged 5-15 years old, designed to improve technical development and increase time spent playing with the ball.
Italy fails to qualify for 2026 World Cup
Italy failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing World Cup 2026 qualifying matches, including a 3-0 defeat in Oslo. This marks another major tournament disappointment for the Italian national team.
Only 33% of Serie A players eligible for Italian national team
Only 33 percent of players in Italy's Serie A are potentially eligible for selection to the Italian national team, with most other top European leagues showing higher percentages of domestic players available for selection.
Gattuso wins six of eight matches as Italy manager
In eight matches as Italy manager, Gattuso's team won six matches and scored 21 goals before a match against Bosnia. Despite limited time in charge, the team showed improved performance and team cohesion.
FIGC president Gabriele Gravina faces potential resignation
FIGC president Gabriele Gravina, elected in 2018, faces calls for his resignation following Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. He announced plans to convene a FIGC federal council meeting for the following week.
Ali Al-Hamadi scores opening goal for Iraq in World Cup playoff
Ali Al-Hamadi, a player for Luton Town in English third division, scored for Iraq with a header from a corner kick in the 10th minute. Al-Hamadi grew up in Liverpool after fleeing the 2003 Iraq War with his parents.
Bolivia equalize in World Cup playoff before eventual loss to Iraq
Bolivia equalized 1-1 in the 38th minute through 18-year-old Moises Paniagua, who scored with a right-footed shot after receiving the ball in the penalty area following a defensive miscue by Iraq.
Iraq placed in World Cup Group I with France, Senegal, and Norway
Iraq completed Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside France, Senegal, and Norway. France will face Iraq in Philadelphia on June 22, open their tournament against Senegal on June 16 in New Jersey, and conclude group play against Norway on June 26 in Boston.
Iraq captain Aymen Hussein scores decisive goal in World Cup playoff
Iraq captain Aymen Hussein scored the match-winning goal with a right-footed shot from close range in the 53rd minute, securing Iraq's 2-1 victory over Bolivia in the World Cup playoff.
Bolivia eliminated from World Cup qualification after 32-year absence bid
Bolivia's loss to Iraq in the World Cup playoff ended their hopes of qualifying for the first World Cup since 1994. The match was played at the CF Monterrey stadium, which has a capacity of 53,500.
France defeats Brazil and Colombia in World Cup warmup matches
France won two friendly matches in preparation for the World Cup, defeating Brazil 2-1 and Colombia 3-1 on Sunday. France holds the FIFA ranking number 1, won the World Cup in 2018, and was runner-up in 2022.
Iraq qualifies for 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in playoff
Iraq secured its second FIFA World Cup qualification by defeating Bolivia 2-1 in a playoff match on Tuesday night in Monterrey, Mexico. This was the final qualifying spot for the tournament. Iraq's journey to Mexico was complicated by the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, with the team traveling overland from Baghdad approximately ten days prior to the match.
Bosnia and Herzegovina qualifies for World Cup for first time since 2014
Bosnia and Herzegovina secured its first World Cup qualification since 2014 by defeating Italy in the playoff final. The team won 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Bosnia will compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
Alessandro Bastoni sent off in Italy playoff match, reducing team to 10 men
Italy center-back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off for a last-man foul before halftime in the playoff match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This forced Italy to play with 10 men for the majority of the match, contributing to their defensive struggles in the second half.
Italy eliminated from 2026 World Cup after penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Italy lost to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the UEFA playoff final on March 31, 2026. The match ended 1-1 after extra time in Zenica. Bosnia won the penalty shootout 4-1, with Esmir Bajraktarević converting the decisive penalty. Italy's Pio Esposito and Bryan Cristante missed their spot kicks. This marks Italy's third consecutive World Cup qualification failure, following missed playoffs for 2018 and 2022.
Czech Republic qualifies for World Cup via penalty shootout against Denmark
The Czech Republic advanced to the 2026 World Cup after defeating Denmark on penalties following a 2-2 draw after extra time on March 31, 2026. Michal Sadilek converted the winning penalty in a 3-1 shootout victory. This is the Czech Republic's first World Cup appearance since 2006.
Italy's World Cup drought extends to 16 years without tournament appearance
Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup means the four-time champions will have gone at least 16 years without appearing in a World Cup match. Italy's last World Cup was in 2014 in Brazil, where the team was eliminated in the group phase. The team also failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
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2 alternative perspectives
Italy faces structural challenges amid World Cup qualification failure
Italy's structural constraints limit national team options despite domestic league strength.
Italy rebuilds football structure after World Cup elimination
Italy implements structural reforms including new management and youth development programs following World Cup elimination.
Iraq joins France, Senegal, Norway in World Cup Group I
Iraq placed in World Cup Group I with France, Senegal, and Norway.
Iraq secures 2026 World Cup berth with playoff victory over Bolivia
Iraq advances to 2026 World Cup after defeating Bolivia 2-1 in playoff.
Sweden, Czech Republic, and Turkey secure 2026 World Cup spots
Sweden, Czech Republic, and Turkey qualify for 2026 World Cup through playoff victories.
Italy eliminated from 2026 World Cup in penalty shootout with Bosnia
Italy eliminated in penalty shootout; Bosnia qualifies for first World Cup since 2014.
Jamaica advances to World Cup playoff final after defeating New Caledonia
Jamaica beats New Caledonia to reach World Cup playoff final against Democratic Republic of Congo.