Italy World Cup qualifying timeline: How Azzurri struggles put them in danger of missing third straight FIFA tournament

The Azzurri have been considered a top-tier football nation ever since they won the second and third FIFA World Cup tournaments in 1934 and 1938, a feat that they repeated two more times by triumphing in 1982 and 2006. Yet since their most recent title, coming on German soil as they beat Zinedine Zidane and France in a penalty shootout, the trajectory of the Italian national team has been firmly downward. After being eliminated in the group stage at both the 2010 and 2014 tournaments, Italy shockingly missed out on qualifying for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup competitions - the first times in their history they missed out on the finals.

MORE: How do World Cup playoffs work? Explaining format, pathway for teams and more for UEFA, intercontinental versions Now, as they gear up for participation in the UEFA qualifying playoffs, gunning for one of the final spots at the 2026 World Cup in North America, Italy are on the brink of missing out for a third straight tournament, an unthinkable proposition not long ago but now a realistic possibility across a decade of pain. The Sporting News brings you a timeline of Italy's spiral from four-time World Cup champions to a country struggling to justify its elite status.

Timeline of major Italy results since 2014 World Cup Italy 1-1 Germany (July 2, 2016 — Euro 2016 quarterfinals): Germany eliminate Italy from Euro 2016 on penalties. Spain 3-0 Italy (September 2, 2017 — World Cup qualifying): Leaves Italy second in qualifying group. Italy 0 (0-1) 0 Sweden (November 13, 2017 — World Cup qualifying playoff, second leg): Italy fail to reach 2018 World Cup.

Italy 1-2 Spain (October 6, 2021 — UEFA Nations League semifinals): Italy eliminated from Nations League Finals by Spain. Italy 1-1 England (July 11, 2021 — Euro 2020 final): Italy win Euro 2020 on penalties. N.