2026 World Cup: Gianni Infantino Takes a Dig at Italy After Its Exclusion

FIFA President Gianni Infantino took a dig at Italy during an interview with CazéTV. Commenting on the possibility of expanding the World Cup in the future, the head of world soccer joked about the Azzurri’s struggles to qualify for recent editions of the tournament.

“First, we need to see how this World Cup with 48 teams goes. It’s already a massive event. We’ve discussed a World Cup with 64 teams, with even broader global participation. It was also discussed at the FIFA Council, but for now let’s enjoy this 48-team edition. Maybe with 64 teams, Italy will manage to qualify. Who knows, maybe we should go up to 208…,” Infantino said, with obvious irony.

A joke that did not go unnoticed and that strikes a raw nerve for Italian soccer. In recent years, in fact, the Azzurri have suffered a series of bitter disappointments: from failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after losing the playoff against Sweden, to being eliminated by North Macedonia, which prevented them from reaching the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, up to the most recent setback against Bosnia and Herzegovina in March 2026. A difficult period that continues to fuel criticism and bitterness among Italian fans.