Italy’s shame: The Azzurri, four-time World Cup winners, are watching the 2026 edition on TV
Italy's national soccer team has failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, marking their third consecutive absence from the tournament. This decline is contrasted with their historic 2006 victory, highlighting a deep sense of national disappointment.
Why it matters
The repeated failure of a historically dominant team like Italy to qualify for major tournaments reflects significant structural issues within the national football program.
Italy s Pio Esposito after missing a penalty during the World Cup qualifying playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica, Bosnia on March 31. Fabio Ferrari/The Associated Press
The article provides a cultural and historical analysis of sports performance without political bias.
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