Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third straight time.

Italy is the only former World Cup winner to have missed three consecutive World Cups. On March 31, Italy lost to Bosnia in a qualifying match.

The game went into a penalty shootout, which Italy ultimately lost. Although Italy played a cleaner game, its inability to get good shots cost it.

FIFA ranked Italy No. 13 before the qualifiers. Despite having missed the World Cup two straight times, many fans expected Italy to qualify this time. Only one of Italy’s starters is over the age of 30.

In November 2025, Italy lost a game to Norway. Despite Italy being favored, Norway won comfortably 4-1. After losing in the initial qualifying round, teams move into single-game elimination. From there, a lot of the qualifications needed to make the World Cup are out of the teams’ hands.

Many experts are trying to figure out why Italy keeps failing to qualify. Some people believe Italy isn’t doing enough to develop young talent. Whether that be not investing in youth leagues or Italian leagues like Serie A, signing foreign players over Italian players. 

However, others take a more practical approach. They believe head coach Gennaro Gattuso didn’t do enough to win. He was hired in 2025. It was clear Italy realized that their previous coaches didn’t do enough, but is Gattuso the answer? His performance against Bosnia was criticized, with fans believing he played too conservatively in a win-or-go-home game.  

Gattuso is a former World Cup champion himself. He was a huge part of Italy’s 2006 World Cup win. He made the World Cup All-Star team. Outside of international play, he was also a good player for AC Milan. He played for them from 1999 to 2012 and was inducted into the AC Milan Hall of Fame. 

Police in England launched an investigation into the racist abuse directed towards three black players on the England national team that missed penalty kicks in England’s loss to Italy in the European Championship Final. 

Both the Metropolitan Police and English Football Association expressed condemnation of the incidents and social media posts. “We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible,” the English Football Association added. “We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real-life consequences.”

Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are young players on the England squad who have been outspoken about inequality. Rashford has notably led campaigns targeting child poverty and swayed the British government to implement certain policies for the cause. 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.” That said, Johnson has faced criticism himself for enabling the booing and harsh response towards the England team for kneeling before matches as a form of protest. 

Former Manchester United player and current SKY News commentator Gary Neville said: “The prime minister said it was OK for the population of this country to boo those players who are trying to promote equality and defend against racism. It starts at the very top and so for me I wasn’t surprised in the slightest that I woke up this morning to those headlines.”

England manager Gareth Southgate saw the situation as unforgivable. “We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together, in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue.”

Prince William, president of the English Football Association, joined the outcry of condemnation. “It is totally unacceptable that players have to endure this abhorrent behaviour. It must stop now and all those involved should be held accountable,” William wrote on Twitter.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also got involved on Twitter, calling for social media outlets to hold people accountable. “There is absolutely no place for racism in football or anywhere else. Those responsible for the disgusting online abuse we have seen must be held accountable – and social media companies need to act immediately to remove and prevent this hate.”

Racist abuse was seen earlier in the tournament too, as investigations were launched after racist tweets were sent following France‘s loss to Switzerland in penalty kicks in the Euro 2020 Round of 16.

Italy has once again reached the pinnacle of European soccer, while England is left with heartbreak as the long wait for a major title continues. 

Italy won the European Championship for the second time ever by defeating England 3-2 on penalty kicks. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation, then neither side could produce a winning goal in extra time. The match was played at Wembley Stadium in London, England, which was filled with English fans preparing to celebrate the country’s first major international trophy since the 1966 World Cup. 

Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci mocked the England team’s anthem “its coming home,” as he chanted “It’s coming to Rome. It’s coming to Rome,” in the post-game celebrations. 

Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma stood tall in the net, playing a decisive role in Italy’s shootout victory. England’s three misses came from Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, all players who were subbed on later in the game. These three who missed are some of the youngest on the squad. Saka is just 19 years old. 

Less than four years ago, Italy hit rock bottom as an international team after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Now, earning the title of the best team in Europe and maintaining a 34-game unbeaten streak, manager Roberto Mancini and the Italian side have had a historical turnaround. 

“It was impossible even to just consider this at one stage, but the guys were just amazing. I have no words for them,” said Mancini after the match. 

England captain Harry Kane spoke on the team’s heartbreak. “The boys couldn’t have given more, Penalties are the worst feeling in the world when you lose. It’s been a fantastic tournament, we should be proud, hold our heads up high. It’s going to hurt now, it’s going to hurt for a while.”

The game started perfectly for England, as Luke Shaw hammered home the fastest goal in EURO final history off of a cross from Kieran Trippier in the second minute. This goal was the only real chance England had throughout the 120 minutes of gameplay, as England hardly possessed the ball for the remainder of the match. 

On both squads, the players considered “penalty specialists” struggled from the spot and the spotlight ended up on the goalkeepers, both of whom proved their worth. However, Donnarumma made crucial saves and ultimately earned his side the trophy as well as earning himself Player of the Tournament. 

The governing body of European football, UEFA, has invited Denmark international player Christian Eriksen and the medics who saved his life during the on-field cardiac arrest he suffered to the EURO 2020 final at Wembley Stadium.

Eriksen’s collapse occurred in his first match of the tournament at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark. The incident occurred on June 12 against Finland. CPR had to be administered and the medics restarted Eriksen’s heart using a defibrillator. Eriksen is currently recovering at home.

Eriksen, his wife and six medics were invited to attend the final. However, it is unclear who will be in attendance.

Paramedic, Peder Ersgaard, said he was honored to receive the invitation from UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin. “I’m excited, like a child on Christmas Eve. I’m very proud of my efforts, but also of the whole team. It wasn’t a one-man effort,” he told Fagbladet FOA.

Denmark reached the semifinal where their magical run came to an end as England defeated them in extra time. England advances to the final where they will face Italy, who defeated Spain in a penalty shootout.

Before Denmark’s loss, Ersgaard was optimistic about watching Denmark compete for the championship. “I hope to see Denmark against Italy. That would be really, really big. Just imagine if they become European champions,” Ersgaard said.

Prior to England’s victory over Denmark, English goal scorer Harry Kane said he hoped to see his former Tottenham teammate Eriksen at the final. “I look forward to seeing Eriksen and catching up with him. Of course it would be nice if England are playing in the final and I can catch up with him after hopefully a happy day. I’m good friends with Christian and his family as well. Whether he decides to come or not, of course I hope to catch up with him soon. From my point of view, I’m glad he is recovering well and just hope he continues on that path until we do meet again,” said Kane.

Italy has reached the Euro 2020 final by edging Spain in a penalty shootout. After 120 minutes of play, the score was 1-1, forcing each team to line up their five best shooters for penalty kicks. Italy won 4-2 in the shootout and now awaits the winner of the England-Denmark match.

Both teams were quiet during the first half of the game. Spain had more opportunities but was unable to convert. The big highlight of the first half was when Spain’s Dani Olmo had the ball in the box but was denied by a Gianluigi Donnarumma save.

Heading into the second half, the game was tied at 0-0. The second half saw the action ramp up as both teams went back and forth in trying to break the stalemate. Italy’s Federico Chiesa scored the first goal of the game. Chiesa received the ball in the corner of the box and worked defender Eric Garcia to score a goal that left Unai Simon frozen in goal.

Spain scored the equalizer with 10 minutes left in regulation. Spain was able to get into the box and pass it to Alvaro Morata for the tying goal.

Neither team was able to score in extra time and the game moved to a deciding penalty shootout. Both teams missed their first penalty shots but both converted their next two shots, adding to the already massive amount of tension. It came down to Spain’s Morata, who was up for the team’s fourth shot. Morata shot it to the lower right and Donnarumma blocked the shot.

The save put Italy closer to victory. All they had to do was convert their fifth penalty shot to eliminate Spain. Jorginho scored their fifth shot with ease to seal the win.

Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci complemented the Spaniards and said they were their hardest challenge of his career.

“It was the toughest game I have ever played,” Bonucci said. “I congratulate Spain for what they showed, but once again this Italy showed heart, determination, and the ability to push through difficult moments. Now there is one more centimetre to go. It is incredible what we are doing. We will be back here in five days, and we must have the same attitude to bring home this trophy that we have lacked for 50 years.”

Italy will play either England or Denmark in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday at Wembley Stadium. Italy is hoping to win the tournament for the first time since 1968.

In the remaining UEFA Nations League group stage fixtures, Belgium and Italy advanced to the final round of the competition along with Spain and France. Both Belgium and Italy won their last group stage fixtures.

Belgium defeated Denmark, 4-2 to reach the number one place in Group 2. Belgium’s Youri Tielemans scored an early goal, followed by an equalizer from Denmark’s Jonas Older Wind. In the second half, Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku scored two goals and Kevin De Bruyne scored one. Afterward, Belgium’s Nacer Chadli scored an own goal to award Denmark the second goal in the game.

The remaining two contenders of Group 2, England and Iceland, faced off. England defeated Iceland, 4-0 with goals from Declan Rice, Mason Mount and two from Phil Foden. Iceland’s Birkir Már Sævarsson was also sent off in the second half after receiving a second yellow card. In Group 2, Belgium is first followed by Denmark, England and Iceland. 

Both Italy and the Netherlands were competing for the top spot in Group 1 to advance to the final four of the competition. Italy defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2-1 with goals from Andrea Belotti and Domenico Berardi. 

The Netherlands also managed to defeat Poland, 2-1. Poland’s Kamil Jozwiak scored an early goal to let Poland take the lead. In the second half, the Netherlands was awarded a penalty scored by Memphis Depay. In the last minutes of the game, Netherlands’ Gini Wijnaldum scored the winning goal. 

Even though both Italy and the Netherlands won their fixtures, Italy managed to top Group 1 and advance to the final four of the competition. The Netherlands is in second place, followed by Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The four finalists, Spain, Italy, France and Belgium will compete for the cup in October 2021. A draw will determine which teams face off one another in the semi-finals and then the semi-final winners will meet in the final. 

For the first time since Turin 2006, Italy was chosen on Monday to host the Olympic Winter Games in 2026.

Northern Italy was one of only two finalists, with the other being a joint bid between Stockholm and a ski resort in Are, Sweden. Due to the Stockholm/Are bid being both hesitant and skeptical, Northern Italy easily won the favor of the International Olympic Committee, as most people predicted happening.

Fewer cities than ever have been able to afford the billions of dollars needed to host the Olympics. Thus, the bids for the 2026 Olympics have shown what the future of bidding will be. That is, multiple cities (possibly even countries) collaborating.

SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019- TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW

Italy’s win became all but solidified due to a lack of commitment from Stockholm’s bid. Stockholm previously dropped out of the running to host the 2022 Winter Olympics due to financial reasons, so a lack of commitment to host the games in 2026 does not come across as all that surprising. Even several months ago, it seemed as if Italy’s bid was on its way to dematerializing. However, after a recent poll revealed that over 80% of Italians supported the hosting of the Olympic games, Italy unified to make sure that the final bid and ultimate victory came into fruition.

Italy has also embraced the idea of multiple cities that will host different parts of the 2026 Winter Games. The Games are set to be spread across Northern Italy from Milan to Cortina. The opening ceremony will be held at Milan’s new San Siro stadium, and the closing ceremonies will occur at an amphitheater in Verona.

Bidding for the 2026 Games experienced a withered field of candidates as public interest flagged or rose in opposition in Calgary, Alberta; Sion, Switzerland; Graz, Austria; and Sapporo, Japan.

For Italy, this is a big win, as the entire country seems to be in complete unity with their excitement to host the world’s largest sporting event.

https://twitter.com/olympicchannel/status/1143148973168975873

The U.S. became the first-ever two-time Olympic champion in women’s water polo on Friday, after a 12-5 defeat over Italy In the final at Rio’s Olympic Aquatics Stadium.

U.S. Women Beat Italy 12-5 For Second Straight Olympic Water Polo Title

Team USA won its first gold in the sport– which was added to the Olympics in 2000– in London four years ago, but only four women from that team– Maggie Steffens, Kami Craig, Melissa Seidemann and Courtney Mathewson– played in Rio di Janeiro this year. All four scored in Friday’s final, nonetheless, with Steffens’ third-period goal giving her a tournament-high 17.

The Americans, who trailed only once for less than a minute in six games in Rio, took a definitive lead on Kiley Neushul’s goal less than four minutes into the final.

By the end of the first eight-minute quarter, the U.S. led 4-1 and was never truly challenged after that. Neushul finished with three goals — on four shots — while Rachel Fatal and Mackenize Fischer scored two each.

Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson, the first African-American to make the national team in women’s water polo, was incredible with nine saves on 13 shots, including a save on a penalty shot that came early in the second half before being replaced by Sami Hill with 2.5 minutes remaining. Hill made two saves in her brief playing time.

The U.S. had previously thrashed Hungary 14-0 in the semifinals, a game after which Johnson criticized her own level of play throughout this tournament.

The United States dominated this tournament following the shocking news on Aug. 3 that head coach Adam Krikorian’s brother Blake Krikorian, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, had died of a heart attack. Adam Krikorian left the team the next day to return to California, but came back to Rio on Aug. 8 before the competition began.

Friday’s final was the first matchup of former champions in five women’s water polo tournaments.

Italy won its gold medal in 2004.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 19: Gold medalists Team United States celebrate on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Water Polo Gold Medal match between the United States and Italy on Day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

Twenty two years ago this week Ireland faced Italy on American soil at Giants Stadium during the 1994 World Cup.

Since, the rosters have changed over generations, and the venue has changed as well.

But the result is identical.

Ireland defeated the Azzurri Wednesday, 1-0, sending the Irish through to the knockout stage of Euro 2016 for the second consecutive time and third since 1988.

The winning blow came from Robbie Brady in the 85th minute when Wes Hoolahan played a picture perfect ball into the penalty area where Brady headed it home beyond the reach, or reaction, of Italian goaltender Salvatore Sirigu.

Just minutes earlier, it appeared that Hoolahan would bear the title of goat.

In the 83rd minute, Hoolahan, a 5-foot-6, 34 year old midfielder, found himself all alone with Sirigu from eight yards out.

The “Irish Messi,” as he has been dubbed by the German press, did not quite live up to the nickname. Instead, he rushed his shot at victory, driving the ball directly into the goalie’s shinguards and Sirigu turned him aside easily.

It appeared there would be no second chance as heads began to hang in the sections of green-clad Ireland fans.

But Hoolahan placed a perfect touch on the crown of Brady’s head and the rest is history.

Ireland improves to 2-1-3 against Italy in the last six meeting between the two sides. Italy still wins the group and they advance to play Spain in the knockout stage.

The Irish have earned a tough draw as well in their next match. Host nation France will be Ireland’s next opponent on Sunday.