Jakarta, hitclubapk3 Indonesia
—
Ahead of the draw for the second qualifying phase
2026 World Cup
The European zone creates a nervous situation for
Italian national team
and Gli Azzurri fans.
Big names and the status of four-time world champions are not enough for Italy to penetrate the 2026 World Cup through competition in the first phase.
In Group I, Italy lost to Norway in the race to win the group.The Viking squad that tops the standings has the right to qualify directly for Canada, Mexico and the United States next year.Meanwhile, Gennaro Gattuso’s team must take part in the second phase of qualifying.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
In the second phase of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the UEFA zone, Italy is one of the first seeds because it is the country with the highest ranking.Italy, which is ranked 12th, is in pot 1 along with Denmark, Türkiye and Ukraine.
Thus Italy will not meet Denmark, Türkiye and Ukraine.
Even though we didn’t meet these three countries, it doesn’t mean that Gianluigi Donnarumma and his friends’ journey will be easy.
There are 12 other countries that could meet Italy in the second phase or playoff round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in the European zone.
Poland, Wales, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ireland, Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland have the potential to tackle the country that last became world champion in 2006.
Italy has failed to reach the World Cup twice in a row.The pattern is the same, failing to qualify straight away and then losing in the playoffs.
In the 2018 World Cup qualifying playoffs, Italy was destroyed by Sweden.Meanwhile, in the 2022 World Cup qualifying playoffs, it was North Macedonia’s turn to prevent Italy from playing in the final round.
Reflecting on the two previous results, Italy could again be humiliated by non-seeded countries in the 2026 World Cup qualifying playoffs.
The UEFA zone World Cup playoff drawing will take place on Thursday (20/11).Later the 16 countries will be divided into four different lines, each of which will compete for one ticket.This round no longer uses a group system, but rather a knockout system.
Italy needs two wins to advance to the 2026 World Cup, namely in the semifinals and final.
In the first match, Italy will meet one of the 4 pot countries consisting of Sweden, Romania, North Macedonia and Northern Ireland.
If they can win, Italy will face the country that won the other semifinal match which brings together countries from pot 2 and pot 3.
[Gambas:hitclubapk3 Video]
(nva/abs)
Read More: Who are the prospective Indonesian national team coaches who have been contacted by PSSI?
Read More: Dubai Builds World’s Tallest Hotel, Beats Eiffel Tower
