Italy's World Cup 2026 Absence Amplified by Coaches' Opening Match Results
Italy's frustration over its third consecutive absence from the FIFA World Cup continued into the 2026 tournament's opening rounds. The Azzurri's non-qualification means Italian fans are keenly observing the competition without their national team. Further adding to this sentiment, two prominent Italian coaches, Carlo Ancelotti leading Brazil and Vincenzo Montella managing Turkey, failed to secure victories in their initial matches, with Brazil drawing against Morocco and Turkey suffering a loss to Australia.
Italy did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the third consecutive time the national team has missed the major football tournament. This non-qualification has made the ongoing competition a source of frustration for Italian football enthusiasts.
The Azzurri were initially slated to be in Group B alongside Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Switzerland, and Qatar. The opening matches for this group concluded with two 1-1 draws: Canada against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar versus Switzerland.
The tournament's opening rounds have also seen mixed results for Italian coaches managing other national teams. Carlo Ancelotti, head coach for Brazil, saw his team secure a 1-1 draw against Morocco. Ancelotti reportedly commented that his players appeared "anxious" during the match.
Vincenzo Montella, coaching Turkey, experienced a 2-0 defeat in their opening game against Australia. During this match, Zeki Celik and Hakan Calhanoglu were in the starting lineup for Turkey, while Juventus player Kenan Yildiz was introduced as a second-half substitute, reportedly not yet fully fit following the end of his club season.
Both Ancelotti and Montella's teams still have opportunities to advance, with two more group stage matches remaining. The tournament format allows for group winners, runners-up, and the eight best third-place teams to qualify for the next round.
Fabio Cannavaro, a member of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, is another Italian coach participating in the 2026 tournament. He is leading Uzbekistan in Group K and is scheduled to make his debut against Colombia on Thursday, June 18.
According to Yahoo Sports Soccer, Italy's World Cup frustrations have deepened after the opening rounds.
