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Italy's World Cup Hopes Hang in the Balance as They Take on Israel
8 Sep
Summary
- Italy have failed to qualify for the past two World Cups
- Israel and Italy are battling for second place and a play-off spot in Group I
- New manager Gennaro Gattuso got off to a winning start with Italy
As of September 8th, 2025, Italy finds itself in a precarious position in the UEFA qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup. The four-time World Cup champions have failed to qualify for the past two editions of the tournament, and they now face the prospect of missing a third consecutive World Cup if they don't secure a positive result against Israel in their Group I clash.
Norway currently leads the group, having won all four of their matches so far. This has left Italy and Israel battling for the second spot, which would secure a play-off berth. Italy, sitting in third place, have a game in hand, but they trail Israel by three points, making this a must-win situation for the Azzurri.
The pressure on Italy is immense, as they look to avoid the unthinkable scenario of missing their third straight World Cup. In a bid to turn their fortunes around, the Italian Football Federation recently dismissed Luciano Spalletti as head coach and replaced him with the charismatic Gennaro Gattuso.
Gattuso's tenure got off to a flying start on Friday, as Italy secured a convincing 5-0 victory over Estonia. Goals from Moise Kean, Giacomo Raspadori, Alessandro Bastoni, and a brace from Mateo Retegui highlighted the team's renewed energy and determination under the new manager.
Now, Gattuso and his players will be looking to carry that momentum into the crucial clash with Israel, which is being played at the Nagyerdei Stadion in Debrecen, Hungary, due to the security situation in Israel. A win for Italy would put them above Israel on goal difference, with a game in hand, and provide a much-needed boost to their World Cup qualifying campaign.
