2026 World Cup: The State of the Beautiful Game the Last Time Italy Qualified

Next summer's FIFA World Cup will mark 12 long years since Italy last ventured onto the global stage. That's a projection that no one would have believed if you’d suggested it when Mario Balotelli was netting the winner against the Czech Republic to propel the Azzurri to Brazil with two qualifiers to spare back in September 2013. And there's no guarantee that the qualification drought will end, judging by the Italians' start to their qualifying campaign for 2026.

Italy's Qualification Campaign

The Azzurri were thumped 3-0 by Norway in their first qualifier for next summer, with the disastrous result triggering manager Luciano Spalletti's sacking. Former midfield general Gennaro Gattuso has since taken charge and orchestrated three straight wins, but the Norwegians remain in the box seat at the summit of Group I. With a World Cup berth still up in the air, betting sites don't consider Italy one of the frontrunners to leave North America next summer with a record-equalling fifth title.

The latest odds from one popular online betting website currently price Gattuso's men as a distant 33/1 shot to win the World Cup next July, well behind 9/2 favorites Spain. Before they can consider mounting a deep tournament run, Italy must first concentrate on punching their tickets to the greatest sporting show on earth, something they have been unable to do the last two times the competition rolled around.

Many younger supporters won't be able to remember the state of the footballing world the last time Italy ventured onto the global stage. Fear not, however, as we're about to remind you.

Real Madrid Finally Win La Decima

Over the last decade, Real Madrid have been the dominant force in the UEFA Champions League, winning the competition five times, including a historic threepeat between 2016 and 2018. However, following their ninth European Cup win back in 2002, Los Blancos would embark upon an epic 12-year drought as they went in search of the elusive La Decima. In 2013/14, that wait finally came to an end.

In his three seasons at the Bernabeu, Jose Mourinho suffered three straight semifinal exits. His replacement Carlo Ancelotti took over in the summer of 2013, and he won the biggest prize that club football has to offer at the first time of asking.

Spearheaded by a front three of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale - just signed for a world record £100m from Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the season - Real swept all before them as they marched toward the Lisbon final. They met Spanish capital rivals Atletico Madrid, marking the first time in history that two teams from the same city contested the Champions League final. And it was very nearly Los Rojiblancos that left with the crown when Diego Godin gave the underdogs a shock first-half lead.

Deep into added time, however, Sergio Ramos's bullet header leveled things up, and in the additional period, Los Blancos never looked back. Extra-time goals from Bale, Marcelo, and a Ronaldo penalty secured a somewhat flattering 4-1 win, securing Real their tenth UCL title. Since then, they have added five more, taking their total haul to a whopping 15.

Atletico Madrid Win La Liga

While they would ultimately suffer heartache in the Champions League final, Atletico Madrid enjoyed arguably their greatest ever season in 2013/14. Diego Simeone was entering his second full season with the Spanish capital's often overlooked club, and he wasn't flush with the riches of his rivals across the city, nor those in Catalonia. Even so, he amassed a group of players with unmatched heart and work rate, and that would take them all the way to a shock title triumph.

Heading into the final day of the season, Real, Atleti, and Barcelona were separated by just three points, but with Simeone's men facing Barca in the Camp Nou, all three teams could end the day with the title. In the end, however, it was Atletico. They managed to grind out a 1-1 draw in Catalonia, ensuring that they finished three points clear of the El Clásico rivals, securing the title for the first time since 1996.

Liverpool's Title Challenge Implodes Spectacularly

Brendan Rodgers managed a renaissance unlike anything Liverpool had seen in 2013/14. With a devastating strike force of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge being fed by Raheem Sterling, Philippe Coutinho, and Steven Gerrard in a new quarterback-like deep midfield role, the Reds surged to the brink of a first Premier League title in 24 years.

A 3-2 victory against Manchester City at Anfield put the Merseysiders within touching distance of the crown, prompting Gerrard to implore his team to "not let this slip." Unfortunately, that's exactly what the skipper did. A fortnight on from that famous victory, Gerrard suffered a freak slip on the halfway line, allowing Demba Ba to race through and score the first goal in a 2-0 Chelsea win at Anfield, swinging the title race back in City's favor.

Then, three days later, the Reds blew a 3-0 lead away at Crystal Palace to draw 3-3, ending their title hopes once and for all. City were eventually crowned champions, and Liverpool would have to wait a further six years for Jurgen Klopp to finally end their Premier League title drought.

Published by Patrick Jane
12.10.2025