The Azzurri have now failed to qualify for the last three World Cups, a stunning run for one of the most successful nations in the sport. With pressure mounting to restore Italy’s place among the world’s elite, the federation is planning a major reset ahead of Euro 2028 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

Leading that rebuilding effort is Paolo Maldini, who was recently appointed as director within the Italian federation. One of his biggest responsibilities will be identifying the right manager to lead the national team back to international prominence, and the list of candidates includes two of the biggest names in world soccer.

Italy approach Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti

According to Paolo Maldini, Italy have already initiated conversations with both Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti as part of the search for their next head coach.

“We have approached Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola. We wanted to start talking with the best world class managers to understand if they could be available for Italy job.”

Guardiola recently stepped away from Manchester City, while Ancelotti has also emerged as a realistic option because of his extensive international experience and legendary résumé. However, Carlo is currently with Brazil.

Italy aiming for a fresh start

The Italian federation hopes hiring a world-class manager can finally reverse years of disappointment on the international stage. After missing three consecutive World Cups, qualifying for the 2030 tournament has become the federation’s top long-term objective, while building a competitive squad for Euro 2028 is expected to be the first major milestone.

Whether Guardiola, Ancelotti, or another elite coach ultimately accepts the position, Italy appear determined to make one of the biggest managerial appointments following the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to digital sports platform Cronache di Spogliatoio, Malago confirmed that discussions have taken place, hinting that the federation is prepared to make a financial exception to land the marquee boss. “[Financial] exceptions have been made, exceptions that, for example, could involve the name dominating the headlines right now: Pep Guardiola,” Malago revealed.

However, Malago was quick to add a note of caution: “Exceptions for obvious reasons that I am not here to explain, but it is by no means certain this will go through.” His measured response leaves lingering questions over who will ultimately take charge of Italy desperate to turn the page after missing three consecutive World Cups.

Guardiola—who was previously linked to Inter Miami following Javier Mascherano’s exit—remains a top-tier candidate for Italy as the federation seeks a transformative leader capable of securing a spot at the expanded 2030 World Cup.

Has Guardiola ever coached an international team?

Despite a coaching career spanning nearly two decades since taking over Barcelona, Guardiola has never managed at the international level. His only experience in international soccer came during his playing career as a central midfielder for Spain.

Whether or not he ultimately takes the reins of a national team, an international role would offer Guardiola the ultimate platform to prove his sustained success isn’t just about club resources, but rather a masterclass in tactical philosophy and relentless work ethic.

Guardiola’s managerial track record

While international soccer would represent uncharted territory, Guardiola’s club resume is virtually unmatched. Here is a breakdown of his career managerial numbers across his three club tenures:

• Matches managed: 1,001
• Wins: 726
• Draws: 140
• Losses: 135
• Win percentage: 72.5%
• Points Per Match (PPM): 2.32
• Total major trophies: 40 (41 including Tercera Division with Barcelona B)

How to watch China vs Italy in the USA

Fans in the United States can catch every minute of the action live, with exclusive streaming coverage available on VBTV.

Be sure to tune in and don’t miss a single point from what promises to be an exciting and entertaining showdown.

Can I watch China vs Italy for free?

Watch the entire match live in the United States with VBTV, the official streaming platform for the event.

A paid subscription is required, as the service does not offer a free trial, but you can get a annual plan for $6.25/month.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

With first place in the preliminary round still up for grabs, Italy heads into a pivotal showdown against China with plenty at stake despite both teams already securing quarterfinal berths.

The Italians enter tied with Brazil and the United States in the standings, making a convincing victory essential while keeping an eye on the outcome of the other key matchup.

China has already locked in its place in the knockout stage as well, but a strong performance could improve its final position in the standings, adding even more importance to this clash.

What time is the China vs Italy match?

The match kicks off today, July 12, at 8:00 AM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 8:00 AM
Central Time: 7:00 AM
Mountain Time: 6:00 AM
Pacific Time: 5:00 AM

The worst performance by a defending FIFA World Cup champion belongs to France at the 2002 World Cup. After lifting the trophy in 1998, Les Bleus finished last in Group A with just one point, becoming the only defending champions in tournament history to be eliminated without scoring a single goal.

France’s disappointing campaign remains the benchmark for World Cup title defenses gone wrong, but it is far from the only reigning champion to suffer an early exit.

The seven worst title defenses in FIFA World Cup history

1. France (2002): France’s title defense in South Korea and Japan remains the worst in FIFA World Cup history. Featuring stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, and Lilian Thuram.

Most remarkably, France failed to score a single goal, becoming the only defending FIFA World Cup champion ever eliminated in the group stage without finding the back of the net.

2. Italy (2010): Four years after winning the 2006 World Cup, Italy endured one of the tournament’s biggest disappointments in South Africa. The Azzurri failed to win a match, drawing against Paraguay and New Zealand before losing to Slovakia to finish last in their group.

3. Spain (2014): Spain entered Brazil 2014 after dominating international soccer by winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships. However, defeats to the Netherlands (5-1) and Chile eliminated the defending champions before the knockout stage despite a victory over Australia.

4. Brazil (1966): Brazil arrived at the 1966 World Cup seeking an unprecedented third consecutive title after triumphing in 1958 and 1962. Injuries to Pelé and defeats against Hungary and Portugal sent the reigning champions home during the group stage.

5. Italy (1950): Although the Second World War created a 12-year gap between the 1938 and 1950 tournaments, Italy entered the competition as defending champions. A victory over Paraguay was not enough, as losses to Sweden resulted in another group-stage exit.

6. Argentina (1982): After lifting their first World Cup trophy in 1978, Argentina returned four years later with Diego Maradona expected to lead another title challenge. Instead, the defending champions were eliminated after finishing bottom of their second-round group following defeats to Italy and Brazil.

7. Italy (1986): Italy entered the 1986 World Cup in Mexico hoping to defend the title won four years earlier. While the Azzurri advanced beyond the group stage, their campaign ended in the Round of 16 with a 2-0 defeat to France.

Why is defending the World Cup so difficult?

Only Italy (1934 and 1938) and Brazil (1958 and 1962) have successfully defended a FIFA World Cup title. Every other reigning champion has eventually fallen short in their attempt to repeat, illustrating just how difficult it is to remain at the top of international soccer.

Maybe Spain aren’t as scary as once thought. Maybe Cape Verde deserve much more credit than they were initially given. One thing is clear, though: La Furia Roja has seen its plans go out the window with an unexpected draw in their 2026 World Cup debut.

Looking at the glass half full, however, all hope is not lost yet. Throughout World Cup history, two teams that opened their campaigns with a goalless draw have gone on to win the trophy. Maybe Spain can be the third name added to that list. After all, it’s a list made up entirely of European sides.

Only England and Italy have achieved so

As reported by statistics expert MisterChip (@2010MisterChip) on X, England and Italy are the only national teams to have become World Cup champions after drawing 0-0 in their opening game.

For the English, it happened in 1966, when they drew against Uruguay in their debut before going on to lift their first—and, to date, only—World Cup title, thanks to a “phantom” goal in the final, in which the ball never broke the plane, let alone fully crossed the line. It remains one of the most controversial situations in World Cup history.

As for Italy, they crowned themselves world champions for the third time in 1982 despite drawing 0-0 against Poland in their opener. That World Cup took place in Spain, so perhaps it’s time for the torch to be passed to La Furia Roja.

How did Spain fare in 2010 World Cup debut?

Although only two teams have gone on to win the World Cup after a goalless draw in their debut, Spain have actually managed to overcome a bigger setback en route to their lone world title. In their opening game of the 2010 World Cup, the Spanish national team fell to Switzerland by a score of 1-0 to kick off the action in Group H.

This time around, Spain have also failed to secure three points in their debut and are playing in Group H as well. Perhaps it’s all a sign. However, symbols and coincidences will only take Luis de la Fuente’s side so far if Spain can’t turn the tide. In their opener, they lacked offensive firepower and looked toothless against Cape Verde, No. 67 in the FIFA World Rankings coming into the game.

Spain must turn the page

On paper, Cape Verde was the least daunting opponent in Group H, so things must change for Spain as they will take on Saudi Arabia and Uruguay next. Good omens aside, de la Fuente’s team looked more like the 2018 and 2022 versions of Spain, led by Fernando Hierro and Luis Enrique, respectively, than the squad that terrorized opponents left and right throughout the 2024 UEFA Euro.

That is something that can’t be overlooked or swept under the rug, regardless of what the statistics and fun facts suggest.

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.