WWith just over two months until the 23rd FIFA World Cup kicks off on June 11, the global soccer landscape is almost completely painted over. Only two spots remain in the historic 48-team tournament, which will be filled tonight when Democratic Republic of the Congo take on Jamaica and Iraq take on Bolivia.
After a dramatic final week of UEFA qualifying, 46 countries have now confirmed their spots. Sweden punched the ticket with a heart-stopping goal in the second half. Meanwhile, Turkey qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 2002 (in the same group as the United States). The Czech Republic defeated Denmark in a tense penalty shootout, but the biggest shock came from Bosnia, who eliminated Italy in a penalty shootout.
The nightmare continues for the Azzurri. Italy has now missed out on the World Cup for the third time in a row. Prior to 2018, the four-time champions had missed the tournament just twice in their entire history (1930 and 1958). Now, a generation of Italian fans will have to wait until at least 2030 to see their colors on the world stage, an astonishing decline for a country with the second most titles in history.
The absent generation: From Brazil in 2014 to expansion in 2026
The last time the world saw Italy in a World Cup jersey was in Brazil in 2014, but even then it wasn’t exactly a stellar run. Similar to the 2010 season, when they did not win a single game, the 2014 team was also eliminated in the group stage. The last time they actually won a World Cup match was in the opening game against England in 2014.
Ironically, Italy’s only joy of the past decade was beating England again to win Euro 2021, yet they remain the ultimate World Cup no-shows.
Since his retirement in 2014, the sport and the world have evolved at a breakneck pace. While Italy remains stuck in a cycle of failure to qualify, the rest of the world is undergoing a complete transformation. To understand how long this drought really lasted, you have to look at what the world looked like the last time Italian players touched a World Cup pitch.
Looking back: How much has the world really changed since the last World Cup against Italy?
To give you an idea of the “time capsule” that Italy has lived through, here is a snapshot of the world in 2014.
Germany were on top of the world: Die Mannschaft had won the 2014 World Cup and were tied with Italy on four titles, both just one behind Brazil’s five. CR7 Peak: Cristiano Ronaldo won the 2014 Ballon d’Or, the third Ballon d’Or of his career, after his historic Champions League run with Real Madrid. Super Bowl disaster: In February 2014, the Seattle Seahawks’ “army of boom” defense dismantled the team. The Denver Broncos won 43-8 in one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in history. Spurs Dynasty: The San Antonio Spurs won the 2014 NBA Finals with a 4-1 revenge victory over the Miami Heat. Young Kawhi Leonard was named Finals MVP. Obama Era: Barack Obama was serving his second term as the 44th President of the United States. iPhone 6 revolution: Apple just launched the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, introducing the first “larger” screen and the debut of Apple Pay. 2014 Soundtrack: According to Billboard Charts, the most played song on the planet was Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” Hollywood Gold: 12Steve McQueen’s “Years a Slave” won the Oscar for Best Picture. Ice Bucket Challenge: Your social media feed has probably been featured in this year’s defining viral trend: videos of people pouring frozen water over their heads to raise money for ALS.
The fact that the world was brought to the brink of a 48-team World Cup in North America without a single Italian player competing since the introduction of the iPhone 6 is statistically astonishing. As the rest of the world prepares for the Aztecs, Italy is wondering when “happy” times will return again.
