The phrase "The Italian curse continues!" reverberated through FOX Sports' coverage as Bosnia and Herzegovina knocked Italy out of World Cup contention with a crushing penalty shootout victory on Tuesday. This result left Italy still waiting for their first World Cup appearance since 2014, deepening the sense of frustration around their recent football fortunes. But what exactly is the "Italian curse," and how did it all begin? Here’s a closer look at the timeline of Italy’s World Cup misfortunes in recent years.
2018: The First Major Setback
After failing to advance past the group stages in both 2010 and 2014, Italy was under immense pressure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. However, not only did Italy fail to progress to the knockout stages, but they also missed out on qualification entirely—a fate the four-time champions hadn’t experienced since 1958.
The failure was largely blamed on the unpopular leadership of manager Gian Piero Ventura and the ongoing transition away from the golden generation that triumphed in 2006. While the 2018 failure shocked many, it soon became clear that Italy’s footballing struggles ran far deeper than just managerial decisions.
2022: A False Dawn of Hope
Despite their failure to qualify for the 2018 tournament, Italy entered the 2022 World Cup qualification cycle with renewed optimism. The nation had just claimed the Euro 2021 title after beating England in the final, sparking hope that Italy could regain its dominant status. Unfortunately, that optimism quickly turned to disillusionment.
Italy failed to win its qualifying group, drawing four out of its last five group-stage matches, including two against Switzerland, the group winners. This put Italy in a UEFA playoff against North Macedonia, where they were heavily favored. However, Italy was stunned once again, failing to break down North Macedonia's defense and losing 1-0 after a last-minute goal from Aleksandar Trajkovski. It was yet another heartbreaking chapter in their World Cup woes.
2026: The Latest Blow
Fast forward to 2026, and Italy found themselves in a familiar position—just one win away from securing their World Cup berth. Having already dispatched Northern Ireland in the playoff semifinals, Italy’s fate rested in their hands. A win against Bosnia and Herzegovina would seal their spot in the tournament.
Things looked promising when Moise Kean gave Italy an early lead, but disaster struck in the 41st minute when star center-back Alessandro Bastoni was sent off with a straight red card for a reckless tackle. Despite a valiant effort to hold on, Italy was unable to survive the penalty shootout, losing 4-1 and failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
Italy’s failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups (2018, 2022, and 2026) is now a painful record, and they stand alone among the eight countries that have won the World Cup, as the only team to have suffered this fate. For context, nations like Brazil, Germany, and France have never experienced such prolonged absence from the world’s biggest football tournament.
Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row has cast a long shadow over their proud footballing history. With such a tradition of success, including four World Cup trophies, this ongoing curse is a bitter pill to swallow for the nation’s fans, who now face the daunting prospect of another long wait before they can challenge for football’s ultimate prize again.
