Materazzi on Italy’s Tepid 2026 Hopes

Italy’s quest for a spot at the 2026 World Cup ended in disappointment, marking a third consecutive tournament missed. The competition expanded to 48 teams, granting Europe three extra qualification slots, yet the Azzurri could not capitalize. Fans grumbled that the new format favored South America, Africa, and Asia, but former defender Marco Materazzi dismissed those concerns. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he suggested Italy would have faced similar hurdles to those encountered by Argentina in the knockout stage.

The New World Cup Format and European Struggles

The 2026 tournament adds 16 more teams compared to the 1998‑2022 format, giving UEFA three additional berths. Despite this boost, Italy failed to secure one of those spots in the European qualifiers. The campaign’s collapse was highlighted by a tense play‑off against Bosnia & Herzegovina, where Gianluigi Donnarumma was captured looking dejected in the match’s aftermath.

Materazzi tackled the criticism head‑on, arguing that Italy would still have struggled against a side like Cape Verde. “I don’t want to get into political speeches, I’ll try to make a football one and I will turn that question around: How much did Argentina struggle against Cape Verde? And if Italy had been there instead of Argentina, do you think they would have struggled any less?” he asked.

Materazzi’s Bold Comparison to Cape Verde

His remark underscores a broader point about the tournament’s competitive balance. The ex‑center‑back’s question forces readers to consider whether Italy’s quality would have been enough to overcome a well‑organized opponent.

Why Cape Verde Posed a Threat

He explained that Cape Verde entered the pitch not merely to defend, but to attack with clear ideas and quality. “They played to upset like us in 2006, and Germany came to realise that.” This mindset, he suggested, is exactly what European teams must prepare for.

Italy’s Long Decline Since 2006

Turning to the Azzurri’s broader decline, Materazzi lamented the period since the 2006 triumph. “We’ve spent that time doing too little more than anything else. Football didn’t stop in July 2006: We should have run further ahead but instead, we fell behind, and not just because of the players and coaches.” He admitted that confronting the full story still makes him sad.