Italy is absent from the World Cup for the third consecutive time, marking a continued period of disappointment for its soccer fans [1, 2]. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has been without a president since April, when Gabriele Gravina resigned after Italy’s playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina ended their qualifying hopes [1, 2].
The former Italy coach, Gennaro Gattuso, also left his post, and the team’s coaching position remains vacant. Roberto Mancini, who left Qatari club Al Sadd on the Saturday before June 15, has been linked to a possible return as Italy’s head coach [1, 2].
Interest in the tournament among Italian fans has been muted, especially in Rome where public venues and local spots have shown little fanfare during matches [1, 2]. Salvatore Piluso, an Italian supporter, said, "I always find the World Cup a fascinating competition, though the absence of the Italian national team certainly makes me follow it with less enthusiasm" [1]. He added that the current tournament holds special interest as it features iconic players nearing the end of their careers like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, calling it "the last one featuring players who defined an era of soccer for my generation" [1].
Fans are nonetheless engaged by following teams led by Italian managers such as Carlo Ancelotti with Brazil and Fabio Cannavaro with Uzbekistan. Alberto Cocuzza, another fan, said he supports Brazil and Uzbekistan but also likes underdog teams like Curacao, Haiti, Panama, and Cape Verde, valuing their outsider status [1].
Looking ahead, there is hope among Italian supporters for a return to the World Cup stage by 2030 [1, 2]. The FIGC leadership and coaching vacancies will be key factors in preparations for future qualification campaigns.