La Gazzetta dello Sport has rated Italy’s possible opponents in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and three teams have emerged as the most challenging for the Azzurri.
Italy have earned a Pot 1 status, so they will avoid some of Europe’s best teams, including their latest Nations League opponent France and Euro 2024 winners Spain.
The other countries in the pot 1 are Germany, England, Portugal, Denmark, Croatia, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Austria.
The 48 European nations participating in the World Cup qualifiers will be divided into 12 groups of four or five, and the draw will take place on December 13 at 11:00 GMT (12:00 CET).
Wednesday’s printed edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport rated every possible Italy opponent.
According to the pink paper, Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey, Erling Haaland’s Norway, and Dusan Vlahovic’s Serbia will be the most dangerous teams the Azzurri could face. Each team got five stars (*****) more than any other country in pots two, three, four, and five.
The 12 group winners will automatically qualify for the final tournament. The 12 runners-up will enter a play-off route from which the Azzurri were eliminated in the last two editions.
Pot 2
Turkey *****
Norway *****
Serbia *****
Slovakia ****
Sweden ****
Romania ****
Ukraine ****
Greece ****
Hungary ***
Poland ***
Wales ***
Czech Republic ***
Pot 3
Scotland ***
Slovenia ***
Georgia ***
North Macedonia **
Ireland **
Albania **
Finland **
Northern Ireland **
Iceland **
Israel **
Bosnia & Herzegovina **
Montenegro **
Pot 4
Bulgaria **
Kosovo **
Belarus **
Armenia **
Kazakistan *
Luxembourg *
Azerbaijan *
Estonia *
Cipro *
Far Oer *
Latvia *
Lituania *
Pot 5
Moldova *
Malta *
Andorra *
Gibraltar *
San Marino *
Liechtenstein *
Source: Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, November 20, 2024, page20
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