Italy last qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the 2014 edition in Brazil —that is the most recent time they actually played at the tournament.

Latest qualifying failures

Since 2014, Italy has failed to qualify for three consecutive World Cups:

  • 2018 (Russia) : Lost in the UEFA play‑offs to Sweden (1–0 on aggregate).
  • 2022 (Qatar) : Lost 1–0 to North Macedonia in the play‑off semi‑final, a shock exit that ended a proud run of 14 consecutive World Cup appearances.
  • 2026 (USA–Canada–Mexico) : As of March 2026, Italy has again been eliminated in the European play‑offs, this time by Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout, meaning they will miss a third straight World Cup.

Quick snapshot table

Tournament| Outcome for Italy
---|---
2014 Brazil| Reached the group stage; last World Cup appearance to date. 13
2018 Russia| Failed to qualify (lost play‑offs to Sweden). 15
2022 Qatar| Failed to qualify (lost to North Macedonia). 35
2026 USA–Canada–Mexico| Eliminated in play‑offs by Bosnia‑Herzegovina; will miss the tournament. 469

In short: Italy last played in a World Cup in 2014 in Brazil , and they have not qualified for the 2018, 2022, or 2026 editions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.