Nine current Italy squad members had faced the hurt of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup — only the second time the Azzurri missed a spot at the finals. With the play-off against North Macedonia approaching, manager Roberto Mancini didn't consider the possibility of a third failed qualification.
Jorginho reacts after Italy loses to North Macedonia in their 2022 World Cup qualifier playoff semifinal match. (CNN) Italy players are "destroyed and crushed" after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar following a last-gasp defeat to North Macedonia, according to defender Giorgio Chiellini.
Italy have lost their chance to compete in this year's World Cup after being defeated by North Macedonia. The European champions failed to score a single goal during their play-off semi-final at home with the final result 1-0.
Marco Verratti has issued a plea for understanding after Italy's shock World Cup qualifying exit while asking reporters to "leave the younger players alone". Italy suffered a shock defeat 1-0 against North Macedonia in Palermo on Thursday that saw them knocked out of the 2022 World Cup qualifying play-offs.
The 2022 World Cup will take place in November, with the first group stage match being played November 21. This event will not feature Italy, the Euro 2021 champion and global soccer powerhouse.
Italy missed out on the World Cup finals again after losing 1-0 at home to North Macedonia in their playoff semi-final as Aleksandar Trajkovski's last-gasp strike earned the visitors a famous win.
It won't be the first time that Italy have not made it to the World Cup finals. The Italian national team have missed three previous editions and the Qatar 2022 tournament will be the fourth time they have been asbsent.
They have won one World Cup, in 1966 on home soil, and since they first entered in 1950 have played in 15 of the 18 finals tournaments to 2018; they were knocked out in qualifying tournaments for 1974, 1978, and 1994. England staged the European Championships in 1996.
To qualify for Qatar 2022 on March 27, Canada needs:
Any one of the above results need to happen on March 27 for Canada to officially book its place in Qatar on that day. If none of the scenarios materialize, Canada will still have the final matchday (March 30) to clinch a spot.
US, Mexico head to World Cup after final qualifying games.
Croatia has also been drawn to play in FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Group F. Croatia surprised many people by reaching the final of the 2018 World Cup, where they lost to France, but they didn't fare quite so well at Euro 2020, as they were eliminated at the Round of 16 stage.
Sunday's result sees the Canadians become the first CONCACAF nation to clinch a berth for Qatar, with a minimum of two more still to join them. Canada's qualification ends a 36-year wait for the country's return to soccer's biggest stage, after a goalless group-stage exit at Mexico 1986.
Playing in front of enthusiastic home crowds, New Zealand won its first seven games, but was beaten in the semi-finals by the eventual winners, Pakistan. New Zealand has reached the semi-finals final of the World Cup on four other occasions (1975, 1979, 1999 and 2007). Five nations have won the World Cup.
Italy is one of the most successful national teams in the history of the World Cup, having won four titles (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006), just one fewer than Brazil. The team was present in 18 out of the 22 tournaments, reaching six finals, a third place and a fourth place.
New Zealand has yet to win the World Cup, but has been runners-up two times (2015 and 2019). The best result by a non-Test playing nation is the semi-final appearance by Kenya in the 2003 tournament; while the best result by a non-Test playing team on their debut is the Super 8 (second round) by Ireland in 2007.
Australia is the most successful team in the competition's history, winning five tournaments and finishing as runner-up twice. Twice, teams have won successive tournaments: the West Indies won the first two editions (1975 and 1979) and Australia won three in a row (1999, 2003 and 2007).
The correct answer is Australia. The country Australia has won most 50 over Cricket World Cups.
Canada has qualified for the football World Cup for the first time in 36 years, after thoroughly beating Jamaica 4-0 in Toronto.
The 2022 World Cup draw took place on Friday, so the United States men's national team's schedule and group stage opponents are now official. The United States were placed in Group B in the third slot.
Watch the final seconds of Canada's match against Jamaica as the national team officially punches their ticket to the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, world soccer governing body FIFA and its European equivalent, UEFA, have suspended Russian teams from all of their competitions. As a result, Russia were disqualified from qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which will begin in November.
The Football Union of Russia has withdrawn its appeal against FIFA's decision to kick its men's national team out of the 2022 World Cup. European soccer's governing body UEFA and its global equivalent FIFA published a joint statement in late February, in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russia out of World Cup 2022: Poland advanced, Ukraine can still qualify after match postponed. FIFA's stance on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has reached tangible consequences, as the football governing body officially announced that Russia is disqualified from World Cup qualification.
The U.S. is heading back to the World Cup, clinching despite a 2-0 defeat in Costa Rica on Wednesday night and securing a return for the Americans after they missed out in 2018.