Andrea Pirlo has not held back on Italy's continued absence from the World Cup, branding the national team's third successive failure to qualify "a disaster."

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico City on Thursday evening, but despite the tournament’s expansion from 32 competing nations to 48, the Italy national team will not be present for the

Italy has won the World Cup four times, but will miss the World Cup for the third straight time as it sits out the 2026 tournament.

Italy failed to reach the World Cup, losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 in penalties after tying 1-1 in regulation in the European playoff finals.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY LUKE AUGUSTUS: This summer marks 20 years since Italy were last triumphant - prevailing 5-3 on penalties against France, following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.

Roberto Mancini is officially a free agent, and his return to the Italian national team has never been closer.

Former head of the Italian National Olympic Committee, Giovanni Malagò, was elected president of the Italian Football Federation FIGC on Monday.

Argentina rose above Italy with their 2022 win.

Goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca was at the heart of Italy's 1994 World Cup campaign, which culminated in one of football's most iconic penalty shootouts. The former Sampdoria and Inter Milan stopper, that tournament remains a mixture of personal redemption,