Italy‘s hopes of automatically qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dashed Sunday with a surprising 4-1 loss to Norway in Milan, forcing the four-time World Cup champions into a challenging playoff stage. The defeat marks the third consecutive qualifying cycle Italy will face a playoff berth, having previously failed to reach the 2018 and 2022 tournaments [[3]]. Now, manager Gennaro Gattuso faces the task of lifting his squad’s morale ahead of a high-stakes playoff run in March 2026.
Jakarta –
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso is working to bolster his team’s spirits following a disappointing 1-4 defeat to Norway in their final 2026 World Cup qualifying match. The result sends the Azzurri into the playoff stage, where they’ll need to fight for a spot in the tournament.
According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport and cited by Football Italia on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, Gattuso avoided a harsh rebuke of his players in the locker room after the lopsided loss. While clearly unhappy with the outcome, he focused on maintaining the confidence of players like Nicolo Barella and the rest of the squad.
“We are strong, you are strong. Do you want to convince yourselves?” Gattuso reportedly told his team following Sunday’s match in Milan.
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The loss means Italy will be forced to navigate the World Cup playoff bracket for the third consecutive time. They previously fell short in 2018 against Sweden and in 2022 versus North Macedonia, missing out on qualification for those tournaments.
The specter of a third consecutive playoff failure looms large, but Gattuso is determined to instill belief in his players that this time will be different.
“You have to believe,” Gattuso continued. The former AC Milan legend recognizes that the team’s mental state is just as crucial as their physical condition.
Italy will play their playoff semifinal on March 26, 2026, with a potential final five days later.
As a top seed, the Azzurri will be placed in Pot 1 and will face one of four teams from Pot 4 in the semifinal: Romania, Northern Ireland, Sweden, or North Macedonia.
(adp/pur)
