Best teams to miss out on World Cup qualification after Italy shock

Four-time World Cup winners Italy will not be present at the 2026 tournament, becoming the only former champion to fail to secure qualification. The Azzurri’s absence marks a historic setback for one of football’s most decorated nations and instantly places them atop any list of the strongest sides ever to be shut out of a World Cup. With four titles to their name, Italy’s pedigree now contrasts sharply with their absence from the expanded 48-team field, leaving fans and analysts to debate how a nation of such stature could fall short on the global stage.