Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has vowed to leave the country if the national team fails to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, placing significant personal pressure on their upcoming playoff campaign.
The 47-year-old manager made the dramatic pledge following Italy’s 3-0 victory over Israel, a result that all but guarantees them a spot in the qualification playoffs.
“I will only take credit if I achieve my goal, which is World Cup qualification. Otherwise, I will live far away from Italy,” Gattuso told reporters.
His comments underscore the high stakes for the Azzurri, who are looking to secure a place in the global tournament.
Gattuso also expressed frustration over the complex nature of the playoff system, making it difficult to predict potential opponents. “It would take a nuclear engineer to find out who we’re going to face,” he said, dismissing early predictions. “You don’t underestimate anyone.”
Despite a comfortable win against Israel, Gattuso acknowledged areas for improvement while praising his squad’s dedication. “I liked the team very much. We need to improve in many aspects, but there are other positive points,” he noted, highlighting the players’ willingness to help, intense training, and strong performance from the forwards.
The victory kept Italy in second place in Group I. Norway currently leads the group with 18 points, while Italy sits on 15. The team’s next fixture in November is against last-placed Moldova, a match expected to cement their playoff berth.
The World Cup playoffs will feature 16 national teams. This includes 12 runners-up from the qualification groups and four additional teams from the best-ranked UEFA Nations League 2024/25 group winners who did not secure a top-two spot in their qualification groups.
These 16 teams will be divided into four distinct paths, each comprising four nations. Each path will consist of single-leg semifinals and a single-leg final. The playoff matches are scheduled to take place during the international window between March 26 and March 31 next year.