Pio Esposito, Inter Milan forward, scored the only goal of the match, which saw few clear scoring chances until the final stages.

There, when Italy were reduced to 10 men after Luca Reggiani was sent off with a straight red card, the hosts tried to reach the opposition box. However, Greece’s lack of effectiveness meant that Gianluigi Donnarumma finished the match with a clean sheet.

Italy will return to official competition next September, when they play in the UEFA Nations League. What is clear is that the young players showed today that there is talent to work with for the future.

This was not just another blow for the nation. The penalty shootout defeat after a draw in regulation time meant that, for the third consecutive time, this team remains absent at a World Cup—something unprecedented for this former world champion.

Although this edition of the competition features 48 teams for the first time, the absence of the Italian national team is at least striking. Four titles throughout history and 12 years without being among the participants raise several questions about what needs to be improved in order to quickly return to the top level.

Three consecutive World Cup absences for Italy

The story of Italy’s modern World Cup absences is one of the most shocking collapses in soccer history, marked by a tragic “hat-trick” of missing three consecutive tournaments. The dark era began during the qualifiers for Russia 2018, where the Azzurri were left heartbroken after failing to score a single goal against Sweden in the European playoffs, losing 1-0 on aggregate.

The despair reached an even more agonizing level for Qatar 2022; despite being the reigning European champions, they were stunned on home soil by a 92nd-minute winner from North Macedonia in the playoff semifinals.

The unprecedented disaster was finally cemented during the qualifiers for the 2026 tournament when, forced into the playoffs yet again, a costly red card down the stretch left Italy with 10 men, resulting in a dramatic 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, who went on to eliminate them 4-1 in a ruthless penalty shootout.

Italy among the most successful teams in World Cup history

Italy boast one of the most legendary legacies in international soccer, standing proud as a four-time World Cup champion with a history built on tactical brilliance and defensive masterclasses. The Azzurri first dominated the global stage in the 1930s under legendary manager Vittorio Pozzo, capturing back-to-back titles by defeating Czechoslovakia in 1934 on home soil and successfully defending their crown against Hungary in 1938 in France.

After a long championship drought, the Italians roared back to glory in Spain 1982, powered by Paolo Rossi’s iconic goal-scoring streak to take down West Germany in the final.

Their fourth and most recent star arrived in Germany 2006, where a star-studded squad defined by ultimate resilience overcame France in a dramatic penalty shootout, cementing Italy’s permanent status as a true blue-blood of world soccer.

Italian legends

Italy’s rich World Cup history is defined by legendary icons who became immortal on the game’s biggest stage. Leading the frontline are clinical forwards Roberto Baggio and Paolo Rossi, who stand as Italy’s joint all-time top World Cup scorers alongside Christian Vieri with nine goals each—with Rossi famously powering the Azzurri to the 1982 title.

Defensively, the nation’s golden legacy is safely anchored by two of the greatest goalkeepers to ever play the sport: Dino Zoff, who made history as the oldest player ever to win a World Cup at age 40 in 1982, and Gianluigi Buffon, the legendary centerpiece of the 2006 champion squad who conceded just two goals throughout that entire tournament.

How to watch Greece vs Italy in the USA

Fans in the United States can catch this marquee matchup live on Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Fubo, and ViX, with multiple streaming options available.

With plenty of talent on the field and excitement expected from start to finish, this is a game you won’t want to miss.

Can I watch Greece vs Italy for free?

Fans can stream this highly anticipated contest through Fubo’s 5-day free trial, allowing them to watch live before committing to a subscription.

The platform carries the network airing the event nationwide, giving fans throughout the United States access to every key play and pivotal moment in real time.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Neither Greece nor Italy will be part of the next FIFA World Cup, but for very different reasons. Greece showed noticeable progress throughout the qualifying cycle, yet missing out on a tournament berth was not entirely unexpected.

Italy’s absence, however, stands as one of the biggest disappointments, as the Azzurri entered qualifying with the pedigree, talent, and favorable circumstances to secure a return to the world’s biggest stage.

As both nations look to move forward, this international friendly offers a valuable chance to evaluate their squads, address lingering issues, and build momentum ahead of future competitions and the next World Cup qualifying campaign.

Greece vs Italy: Predicted Lineups

Greece (4-4-2): Tzolakis; Vagiannidis, Retsos, Mavropanos, Tsimikas; Zafeiris, Kourbelis, Triantis; Tzolis; Douvikas, Pavlidis.

Italy (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Fortini, Comuzzo, Ahanor, Bartesaghi; Ndour, Lipani, Pisilli; Fini, Esposito, Koleosho.

What time is the Greece vs Italy match?

The match kicks off today, June 7, at 1:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 1:00 PM
Central Time: 12:00 PM
Mountain Time: 11:00 AM
Pacific Time: 10:00 AM

How to watch Luxembourg vs Italy in the USA

Fans will have several options to watch this highly anticipated game live, with coverage available on Tubi, Amazon Prime Video, Fubo, and ViX.

Whether you’re at home or on the go, these streaming services make it easy to follow every moment. Don’t miss out on what promises to be an exciting matchup.

Can I watch Luxembourg vs Italy for free?

Fans wanting to watch this marquee matchup without an immediate commitment can use Fubo’s 5-day free trial, offering a convenient way to stream the game live before choosing a subscription plan.

The service includes the channel carrying the broadcast nationwide, allowing viewers across the United States to follow every major moment as it happens.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

Italy enters this international clash under heavy scrutiny after missing out on a third consecutive World Cup, a disappointing stretch for the four-time champions that has sparked questions about the direction of the national team.

On the other side, Luxembourg arrives with a far more encouraging trajectory, having steadily developed into a tougher, more disciplined opponent in Europe and no longer serving as an automatic win for higher-ranked sides, even if a major tournament debut still eludes them.

With both programs navigating different stages of rebuilding, this meeting offers a valuable measuring stick for where each stands heading into the next cycle of international competition.

Luxembourg vs Italy: Predicted Lineups

Luxembourg (4-4-2): Barrela; Jans, Mahmutovic, Carlson, Pinto; V. Thill, Martins Pereira, Barreiro, Rodrigues; Curci, Sinani.

Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Mancini, Bastoni, Calafiori; Politano, Barella, Locatelli, Tonali, Dimarco; Raspadori, Immobile.

What time is the Luxembourg vs Italy match?

The match kicks off today, June 3, at 2:45 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 2:45 PM
Central Time: 1:45 PM
Mountain Time: 12:45 PM
Pacific Time: 11:45 AM

Throughout the tournament’s nearly century-long history, some of the sport’s greatest teams have tried to repeat as champions, but very few have managed to stay on top of the world twice in a row.

Only two countries have ever won consecutive FIFA World Cups. As Argentina prepares to defend the crown it lifted in Qatar 2022, the conversation around back-to-back world champions has returned to the spotlight.

Which countries have won back-to-back FIFA World Cups?

Only Italy and Brazil have won consecutive FIFA World Cups. In nearly 100 years of tournament history, just two nations have successfully defended their world title.

Italy became the first team to achieve the feat after winning the 1934 World Cup on home soil and repeating as champions in France four years later. Led by legendary coach Vittorio Pozzo, the Azzurri defeated Czechoslovakia in the 1934 final and Hungary in the 1938 championship match.

Brazil joined that exclusive club two decades later. The Selecao captured the 1958 World Cup in Sweden behind a breakout performance from a 17-year-old Pele, then successfully defended the trophy in Chile in 1962 despite him suffering an early tournament injury.

Garrincha emerged as Brazil’s star during that title run and helped secure a 3-1 victory over Czechoslovakia in the final. Several countries have come close to matching that achievement, including Argentina and France.

Has any country come close to winning consecutive World Cups?

Yes! Argentina, Brazil and France all reached the World Cup final while trying to defend their title but fell one win short of repeating as champions.

Argentina nearly joined Italy and Brazil after winning the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. Diego Maradona‘s team returned to the final in 1990 but lost 1-0 to West Germany in Rome.

Brazil faced a similar situation after winning the 1994 World Cup in the United States. The Selecao advanced to the 1998 final in Paris, hoping to become the first nation to win back-to-back titles on two separate occasions. Instead, France earned a dominant 3-0 victory behind Zinedine Zidane.

The most recent near miss came from France. After lifting the trophy in Russia in 2018, Didier Deschamps‘ squad returned to the final in Qatar in 2022. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick, but Argentina prevailed on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Those examples underline how difficult it is to remain at the top of international soccer across two consecutive World Cup cycles. More than six decades have passed since Brazil became the last team to defend its crown successfully.

Which nation has won the most FIFA World Cups?

Brazil has won more FIFA World Cups than any other nation, with five titles. The Selecao remains the most successful team in tournament history. Their championships came in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.

Those title-winning teams featured some of the greatest players ever, including Pele, Garrincha, Romario, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. Germany and Italy rank second with four World Cup titles each, while Argentina moved into third place with three championships after winning the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Brazil also owns another unique World Cup record. The South American giant is the only nation to have appeared in every edition of the FIFA World Cup since the competition began in 1930.

Which teams have reached consecutive World Cup finals?

Five nations have reached consecutive FIFA World Cup finals: Italy, Brazil, the Netherlands, Argentina and France. While only Italy and Brazil managed to win back-to-back titles, each of those countries produced generations capable of returning to soccer’s biggest stage in consecutive tournaments.

Italy was the first nation to achieve the feat, reaching the finals in 1934 and 1938. The Azzurri won both tournaments, defeating Czechoslovakia and Hungary to become the first team to successfully defend the World Cup title.

Brazil followed with consecutive finals in 1958 and 1962, defeating Sweden and Czechoslovakia to lift the trophy both times. The Selecao later put together another remarkable run by reaching three straight World Cup finals in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

The Netherlands became the next nation to reach back-to-back finals. Led by the legendary Johan Cruyff in 1974 and featuring another talented squad in 1978, the Dutch fell short on both occasions, losing to West Germany and Argentina, respectively.

Argentina joined the list after reaching consecutive finals in 1986 and 1990. Inspired by Diego Maradona, La Albiceleste defeated West Germany in Mexico City to win the 1986 World Cup before losing a rematch against the Germans four years later in Rome.

France is the most recent team to accomplish the feat. After winning the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Les Bleus returned to the final in Qatar in 2022. Kylian Mbappe scored a hat trick in one of the greatest finals in tournament history.

Shortly after the federation confirmed Gravina’s departure, Buffon took to Instagram to announce he was stepping aside as the national team’s head of delegation. “Now that President Gravina has decided to step down, I feel free to perform what I consider a responsible act… The main objective was to lead Italy back to the World Cup. And we did not achieve it,” Buffon wrote in his farewell letter.

According to Italian insider Fabrizio Romano, Gattuso is expected to follow suit, despite initial indications from Gravina earlier this week that the federation wanted him to stay. The double resignation of the top brass has triggered a total restructuring of the Italian soccer hierarchy.

Who could replace Gattuso? Potential candidates emerging

While Gattuso’s departure has not been officially confirmed, Italian media outlets are already circulating names for a potential successor. Two high-profile former managers lead the shortlist:

• Roberto Mancini: The current Al Sadd manager led the Azzurri from 2018 to 2023. While his tenure included the disappointment of missing the 2022 World Cup after a loss to North Macedonia, he famously masterminded Italy’s second-ever UEFA Euro title in the 2020 edition (played in 2021).

• Antonio Conte: Currently at the helm of Napoli, Conte previously managed the national team from 2014 to 2016. Under his guidance, Italy reached the Euro 2016 quarterfinals, where they were narrowly eliminated by Germany in a penalty shootout.

Gattuso’s record with Italy

Gattuso took over as Italy’s head coach in June 2025, stepping in for Luciano Spalletti following a string of poor results during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The legendary former AC Milan midfielder leaves behind a brief but statistically strong record.

In his eight World Cup Qualifying matches at the helm, Gattuso led the Azzurri to six wins, one loss, and one draw (1-1 vs Bosnia that led to the decisive penalty shootout defeat).

Despite what was a largely positive tenure on paper, the failure to meet the primary objective—securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup—has placed his future in doubt.

“Last night, after the match, I cried… Today, words serve little purpose, it’s true. But there is one thing I feel deeply and that I want to share with you: after such a great disappointment, we must find the courage to turn the page, once again. And for that, it takes a lot of strength, passion, and conviction. Always believing in it is the driving force to move forward…” Donnarumma wrote.

With this latest failure, Italy has set a grim record, missing the 2018, 2022, and 2026 editions. They are now the first former World Cup-winning nation in history to fail to qualify for three consecutive tournaments.

Fabio Capello blames Italian Football Federation

Legendary former manager Fabio Capello did not mince words when discussing the state of the national team. In a recent interview with MARCA, the former England and Real Madrid boss labeled the situation a sporting tragedy.

“We are talking about a four-time world champion; this is a sporting tragedy, a disgrace. It is the worst thing to happen to Italian soccer in recent history,” Capello stated.

While fans have criticized Gattuso and the players, Capello pointed the finger at the top. “No one resigns here, and that is what’s most worrying. The first person who should take responsibility is the federation president, along with the entire board of directors,” he asserted, calling for an urgent structural overhaul.

When was Italy’s last World Cup appearance?

After being crowned champions of the 2006 World Cup in Germany by defeating France on penalties, Italy made only two more appearances on the world stage: South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014, which remains their last participation to date.

However, those tournaments marked the beginning of a collapse for a national team that has lifted the trophy four times in its history. In 2010, as the defending champions, Italy put in a poor performance and were eliminated in the group stage. They repeated the same outcome in 2014, recording a single victory over England followed by two losses against Uruguay and Costa Rica.

“I’ve asked Gennaro Gattuso to stay and continue,” Italian Federation president Gabriele Gravina said after Italy’s heartbreaking loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina, via Fabrizio Romano on X.

The coach also addressed the media after the game but didn’t talk about his future. Instead, Gattuso only lamented Italy’s World Cup exit, claiming the entire team was ‘hurt’ by the result.

When does Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy contract expire?

When Italy hired Gattuso as head coach in June 2025, The Guardian reported that he was signing a one-year contract, culminating in a potential 2026 World Cup participation.

With Italy once again watching the tournament from home, it remains to be seen whether Gattuso will remain on the touchline. The Italian Federation may have the intention to run things back, but will the coach be interested in doing so after this failure?

Gennaro Gattuso’s bold promise resurfaces as Italy misses 2026 World Cup

In October 2025, Gattuso went as far as promising that he would flee Italy if the national team missed the World Cup with him at the helm.

“I’ll take credit if I manage to achieve the goal, otherwise I’ll go and live far away from Italy,” Gattuso said in October 2025. “I’m already a bit far away [living in Marbella, Spain], I’ll go even farther. The consequence is that, I’m aware of it.”

Gattuso’s comments came after a 3-0 win over Israel. Back then, Italy were riding on a four-game winning streak and had secured a spot in the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifying playoffs.

Eventually, Italy fell short again, becoming the first World Cup-winning nation to miss three consecutive editions of the tournament.

Gattuso’s legacy in Italy

This is obviously a huge stain in Gattuso’s managerial career, though it doesn’t erase what he accomplished as a player with the national team. After all, he played a key role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup win.

That may explain why, even after an extremely disappointing result, the Italian Federation wants to give the Azzurri legend another chance.

“We did not deserve this. We show passion, we played with 10 men since minute 40… we are sad, but this is football,” the manager said via Fabrizio Romano on X. He also added: “I’m proud of my team. We are hurt.“

The Azzurri will be one of the big absentees in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. The penalty shootout against Bosnia proved to be this team’s undoing. Even so, Italy told Gattuso they want him to stay as head coach.

Italy’s dream shattered

After securing a hard-fought victory against Northern Ireland to stay in contention, the Azzurri faced a tense showdown against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The match remained deadlocked at 1–1 after extra time, forcing a dramatic penalty shootout.

Unfortunately for Italy, they were unable to clinical from the spot, losing the shootout 4-1, and seeing their hopes for the tournament come to a sudden end.

Italy’s most recent World Cup appearance

The last time Italy participated in the World Cup was in 2014, where they were eliminated in the group stage. Following their failure to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 editions, their recent playoff defeat has officially left Italy out of third straight World Cup, a devastating blow for the four-time champions.

The result marks a staggering new low for the Italian side. This is the third consecutive cycle in which Italy have failed to reach the world’s biggest stage; remarkably, the powerhouse program hasn’t seen a World Cup knockout round since hoisting the trophy in 2006. For a nation of this stature, the drought has officially shifted from a slump to a crisis.

As the soccer world processes the upset, social media has pulled no punches. Here are the best memes and reactions to Italy’s stunning exit:

The Azzurri nightmare continues

The match was defined by early disaster, as the Azzurri were forced to play nearly 80 minutes with 10 men following a first-half red card. While the shorthanded squad fought to a stalemate through extra time, the luck ran out at the spot.

Yet, for a program that once defined clinical excellence, this latest exit felt hauntingly familiar rather than accidental.

The heartbreak in Sarajevo adds another grim chapter to a decade of Italian futility. In 2017, it was a -1-0 aggregate loss to Sweden that snapped a 60-year qualifying streak.

Four years later, a shocking stoppage-time goal by North Macedonia ended the 2022 campaign before it truly began. With this latest collapse, Italy have officially transformed from a global powerhouse into a cautionary tale of playoff heartbreak.

Haris Tabakovic forced extra time with an equalizer in the second half, and eventually, penalties sealed Italy’s fate. For the third time in a row, the Italians will watch the World Cup from home.

Having already missed the 2018 and 2022 events, Italy are now the first World Cup-winning country to miss three consecutive editions of the tournament.

This heartbreaking result only increases the crisis of one of the most storied nations in soccer history, as we’re talking about a team that won four World Cups — only one less than Brazil, who hold the record for most triumphs.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 2026 World Cup schedule

With Bosnia and Herzegovina taking down Italy for a 2026 World Cup berth, Group B is set and so is its schedule. Bosnia and Herzegovina will make their debut against co-host Canada on June 12 at 3:00 PM ET at BMO Field in Toronto.

Six days later, they will travel to the West Coast to play Switzerland at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Kickoff for that game on June 18 is also set at 3:00 PM ET.

The group stage finale will see Bosnia and Herzegovina taking on Qatar at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 24 at 3:00 PM ET.