I don’t like the swelling of the World Cup. The format with 32 teams, which had been consolidated since the 1998 edition, has changed and there will be 48 countries at next year’s World Cup, which will be in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
With more teams, the level tends to drop, as there will be more less technically qualified participants. As I have no say in what FIFA decides, being just an opinion, the way is to adapt and try to see the positive side.
I like new things, so I celebrate teams that will compete for the first time in the most celebrated world football tournament: Cape Verde (Africa), a Portuguese-speaking country, Jordan (Asia) and Uzbekistan (Asia) are classified. There are still a few spots left, and there may be other freshmen.
On the other hand, I also like seeing the world champions at the World Cup.
To date, seven countries have won: Brazil (five times: 1958, 1964, 1970, 1994 and 2002), Germany (four times: 1954, 1974, 1990, 2014), Italy (four times: 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006), Argentina (three times: 1978, 1986 and 2022), France (bi: 1998 and 2018), Uruguay (bi: 1930 and 1950), Spain (2010) and England (1966).
For 2026, Brazil, Uruguay, England and France have already qualified, and Germany and Spain are in a good position to obtain the place as champions of their respective groups in the European Qualifiers.
As for Italy…
It’s been two World Cups since Italy has been missing from the heptad of world champions. He failed to win his group in the qualifiers for Russia-2018 and Qatar-2022. It went to the repechage, losing, respectively, to Sweden and, amazingly, North Macedonia (which would later lose to Portugal).
Repechage is a noose around your neck. Under the current rule, there are two rounds, both with a single game. It is necessary to “kill” two rivals to get your passport stamped for North America. A bad day is gone. And the Azzurra had bad days in both 2018 and 2022.
It is not encouraging for Italians to find themselves under such intense pressure again. The recent retrospect will be remembered, and the psychology of players and fans will be affected.
Italy failed this time in a group with Norway, Israel, Estonia and Moldova. In 2018, it was behind Spain (ok, it was Spain). In 2022, behind Switzerland (it shouldn’t). Now, he will be behind super-scorer Haaland in Norway.
I anticipate that it will stay because there will still be Italy x Norway, this Sunday (16), in Milan, in the final game of Group I.
To get a direct place in the World Cup, the Italians (six wins, one defeat, in the first duel against the Nordics) need to overcome the Norwegians (seven wins) by a nine goal difference.
The Azzurri have even recorded 9-0 twice, once in 1920, in a friendly against France, and in 1948, at the London Olympics against the USA).
In 2025, it will not happen. Without a single star on the line and with an unimpressive attack, which only leaked the very fragile Moldova, on Thursday (13), 43 minutes into the second half, it won’t happen against Norway.
Resigned to the uncomfortable situation, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, perhaps already thinking about (more) future suffering for the Azzurri, wants a change in the Qualifiers.
“In my time, the best runner-up [de todos os grupos] they were going straight to the World Cup”, said the former brucutu midfielder, champion with Italy in Germany in 2006.
Gattuso also mentioned, indicating disagreement in the distribution of places, that of the ten competitors in the South American Qualifiers, six qualify and a seventh is still competing in a repechage.
You can complain. Suggest can. It is, however, the regulation. Right or wrong, it was accepted by those who played each qualifier.
Gattuso, in addition to the hardship that lies ahead, remains an encouraging prospect: there is talk of increasing the number of teams for the 2030 World Cup to 64. Once this is achieved, there will be more places for Europe and, consequently, Italy’s chances will increase.
