A qualification that have to be earned. 180 minutes by which to place coronary heart, thoughts, and high quality on the road to achieve the ultimate stage of the World Cup. A aim missed within the final two editions.
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Italy watched with eager curiosity because the draw for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup happened in Washington DC.
In the present day, the 12 teams required by the brand new 48-team format had been drawn, with 42 nationwide groups having already secured their spot and one other 6 – 4 from UEFA and a couple of from intercontinental playoffs amongst different confederations – nonetheless needing to earn their place.
Gattuso’s Nationwide Group already is aware of who they are going to face subsequent summer season in the event that they handle to safe qualification via the playoffs, the place they are going to tackle Northern Eire after which – if profitable – the winner of Wales vs Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Stars, threats, and skills: let’s uncover the secrets and techniques of Italy’s attainable opponents within the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
🇨🇦 CANADA WITH MARSCH AND DAVID
Third World Cup, solely defeats. 6 out of 6. After the 1986 and 2022 editions, Canada qualifies as a number nation for the World Cup. The star is Alphonso Davies from Bayern, sidelined since March as a result of damage and lately returned to group coaching: he’s set to assert a spot on the left wing. In midfield, Ismael Koné from Sassuolo continues to develop, whereas up entrance, the attacking burden falls on Jonathan David, who hasn’t but reached his Lille ranges with Juventus, however has been decisive for his nationwide workforce, simply as he was with the French membership. To not neglect Buchanan, a short presence at Inter after an important spell at Bruges and now at Villarreal in La Liga.
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The coach is Jesse Marsch, main Canada since Might 2024 after profitable two Austrian titles and two nationwide cups with Salzburg. The most recent step in a journey that started in 2010 as Bob Bradley’s assistant with america of their World Cup qualification marketing campaign, a aim that was missed.
CANADA’S LAST LINEUP
TYPICAL LINEUP (4-4-2): St. Clair; Laryea, Cornelius, Bombito, Davies; Buchanan, Choiniere, Sigur, Ahmed; David, Larin.
🇨🇭SWITZERLAND WITH YAKIN AND MANY ‘ITALIANS’
Switzerland certified for the World Cup by ending first in UEFA Group B. An nearly good run for Murat Yakin’s workforce, with 4 wins and two attracts. An opponent that brings again unhealthy reminiscences for Italy, eradicated within the spherical of 16 on the final European Championship by the Swiss. For Switzerland, the spherical of 16 is a taboo: within the final three World Cups, the Swiss have at all times been eradicated at this stage (by Argentina, Sweden, and Portugal).
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Twice Swiss champion with Basel and with expertise in Russia with Spartak Moscow, Murat Yakin took cost of Switzerland in 2021. That is his second World Cup: in Qatar, the Swiss journey ended within the spherical of 16 with a heavy 6-1 defeat to Portugal.
Switzerland can rely on many gamers who play or have performed in Serie A: from Manuel Akanji, Inter defender, to Ricardo Rodriguez, former Milan fullback, in addition to former Udinese participant Widmer, Pisa midfielder Aebischer, Fiorentina’s Sohm, and former Bologna participant Ndoye. Alongside the latter, the Swiss assault depends on Breel Embolo, born in 1997 and presently at Rennes. Raised at Basel, after spells within the Bundesliga with Schalke 04 and Borussia Monchengladbach, he moved to Ligue 1 with Monaco, and since final summer season, he wears the purple and black. To this point, he has scored 4 objectives and offered 1 help in 11 league matches.
THE LAST LINEUP
TYPICAL LINEUP (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Ndoye, Rieder, Vargas; Embolo.
🇶🇦 QATAR AND THE SPANISH ‘GURU’
Of their second World Cup look, the primary earned on the sector, Qatar is the Asian workforce with probably the most losses in qualification. A statistic that doesn’t bode nicely for Spanish coach Lopetegui. After topping Group A in Asian qualifiers, a goalless draw in opposition to Oman and a 2-1 win over the United Arab Emirates secured their ticket to the 2026 World Cup. The aim is to earn their first level after defeats within the residence version in opposition to the Netherlands, Senegal, and Ecuador.
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The primary determine, extra on the bench than on the sector, is Julen Lopetegui. His trophy cupboard consists of European titles with Spain’s U19 and U21 groups, earlier than being promoted to go coach between 2016 and 2019 and being dismissed simply days earlier than the World Cup in Russia as a result of an settlement with Actual Madrid. That have lasted only some months earlier than one other bitter dismissal. He additionally gained a Europa League with Sevilla in 2020.
If Afif is among the most anticipated gamers, after disappointing within the residence version, there may be additionally nice ‘hype’ round Almoez Ali, a striker born in 1996 who performs for Al Duhail and is a teammate of former Lazio participant Luis Alberto.
THE LAST LINEUP
TYPICAL LINEUP (4-2-3-1): Abunada; Al-Oui, Lucas Mendes, Al-Hussain, Al-Brake; Fathi, Madibo; Edmilson Junior, Al-Mannai, Afif; Almoez Ali.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence.
📸 FABRICE COFFRINI – AFP or licensors