Italy have failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row, and Football Italia looks at the favourite teams to lift the coveted cup this summer.
Italy have once again suffered a World Cup heartbreak, losing the play-off Final on penalties against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Italy miss out on World Cup qualification once again
The Azzurri last played in the World Cup in 2014 and, next summer, they’ll be forced to watch the competition from home for the third time in a row.
Odds comparison from the best offshore sportsbooks shows defending Euro champions Spain as the favourite side to lift the 2026 World Cup.
However, competition is stiff, as La Roja is followed by England, France, Argentina, and Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil.
France reached the Final in the last two editions, first beating Croatia in 2018 and then losing to Lionel Messi’s Argentina in 2022.
England, on the other hand, reached the European Championship Final in the last two editions, losing to both Italy and Spain.
Marcus Rashford of England (R) celebrates as he scores his team’s second goal with Harry Kane of England during the UEFA Nations League A Group Four match between Spain and England at Estadio Benito Villamarin on October 15, 2018 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Only eight countries have ever won the World Cup, and despite the frequent shocks over the last decade, Italy remain one of the most successful countries in the competition with four victories, the same as Germany, and just one less than Brazil.
Arguably, the most prominent Italian at next summer’s 2026 World Cup will be Brazil coach Ancelotti, who took over the South American national team less than a year ago.
Ancelotti is already the most successful coach in the Champions League and the only manager to have won the domestic title in each of the top five European leagues: Italy, England, Spain, Germany and France.
“Brazilians want to see the national team win the World Cup. Of course, if you play well, you have better chances of going far, but in 1994 and 2002, they had great forwards yet won thanks to a very solid defence. I think it will be the same in the next World Cup,” Ancelotti said in a recent interview.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – MARCH 26: Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti waves before the international friendly match between Brazil and France at Gillette Stadium on March 26, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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“We have high-level veterans and talented youngsters. We’re surrounded by incredible passion. They ask us to win the World Cup, and that’s what we’ll try to do. Brazil has been waiting far too long; they want the sixth title.”
The Italian tactician also named the favourite teams to win the World Cup and warned about possible surprises.
“France, Spain, England, Germany, Argentina, Portugal. The usual ones,” he said.
“But be careful. With 48 teams, there will surely be surprises. Tomorrow we play Senegal, who beat England 3-1. They’re very strong. Same for Morocco, they’re doing great. You have to be ready and prepared.”
