The UEFA Playoffs to decide the final nations qualified for the 2026 World Cup are this week, and no nation has more pressure on them to qualify than Italy, who have most recently missed both 2018 & 2022 editions of the World Cup. Join Claudia Pagan, Nico Cantor, Tony Meola & JayDee Dyer as they break down whether or not Gennaro Gattuso can lead Italy back to the big stage, or if we witnessing the unthinkable: Italy missing a third consecutive World Cup. The crew breaks down the pressure cooker in Palermo as Italy hosts Northern Ireland, and make their Path A picks on who will qualify to the tournament this summer.
0:00 Italy Path A PREVIEW
1:33 Path A Pick ’em
2:45 Why do Italy qualify?
4:30 What to expect from Playoffs
8:48 Does Italy need a STAR?
10:27 How does this team qualify?
12:17 Watch More!
#italy #uefa #patha #worldcup #worldcup2026 #cbssportsgolazo #cbs #cbssports #soccer #football #preview #worldcupprediction #pickem #bracket
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I hate this revisionism. Italy never lost to Sweden because they assumed victory, they lost because Immobile (despite being prolific for club) was unable to deliver in Azzurri shirt, Verratti got suspended foe second leg and was our best player, and Ventura didnt want you to use Insigne when we struggled to create. And that was a huge trauma. We battered North Macedonia but missed our attacking threats like Chiesa & Spina & Immobile couldn’t deliver. Also we were only there because of Jorginho’s penalty technique. North Macedonia were lucky but also Italy had no attacking threats. Kean & Retegui both have pit up numbers in an italy shirt. Credit to Gattuso for recognising that.
I hear Joe Rogan
this isn the italian national team like the italian teams of the past. this is a pathetic lousy no talent, no star power, no depth and no big name having sorry excuse for an italian team in which they shouldnt even make the World Cup, since they'll only embarrass themselves further with an early group exit anyways 👎
a World Cup without Italy is no World Cup.
Actually I think Gabbia would make this Italian team from Milan but he got hurt.
Forza Italia!
If Gattuso starts Donnarumma …. i would be worried for Italy
The guy with a green sweater has made what in Italy we call the invention of warm water,meaning tò state the obvios.
Italy won't make it because since the advent of VARS, Italy can't use their dark arts which frequently got them over the line.
I am amazed that you have and american talking about football.Sorry,but It Is so cheap.
The result of nearly zero Italians playing in the Italian League. 2… Possibly 3 missed World Cups…… In a row!
If the US makes a semi-final, that is just more corruption going on. It's clear as day. More diving in the box and penalties given and denied for them and the opposition.
Why does it look like and sound like, That Nico is drunk, slurring his words
Why aren't all these games played in neutral stadiums, as it's just one game?
Di Marco
Calafiorre, who is going deep with Arsenal
Donaruma
Esposito , who is on the cusp .
That's three and a half world-class players. More than the other three teams in the group have combined.
I'd love to see Italian fans going into absolute meltdown again 😂
C'mon Northern Ireland 🇬🇧
You can cause an upset since there's no pressure on you guys.
Italy and Serie A is missing the Italian identity that made everyone fear them. Everyone knew our defence and tactics were our strongest weapon. Teams like Milan, Juventus and inter really need to invest in youth Italian talents. Don’t be scared if they fail to deliver the first time, just give them the time. England, Spain, Germany all had their cycles and showed the potential of giving trust and freedom to fail to young players.
Surely not this time! Please!
7:35 "I obviously work with some of the brightest minds in Serie A like Marco Messina…" Tony I love you man but are you serious? As a former player you bring much more to the table than a couch potato will ever do. Cheers.
They should have enough to beat a stubborn N Ireland. But away to Wales – if they go through – could be a long night.
7:14 ❤
Allegri started to hate italians too
He prefers fofana not ricci😂😂
Missing 3 WC finals is forever for the regular teams, never mind for Italy who won 4, albeit the last time was 20 years ago. They could practically lose a whole generation of football fans. Also add the fact that they didn't pass group stage in the last two they were there, makes it harder to swallow for their fans. That is worse than Germany failing to pass the group stage in the two last WC finals.
Please let Italy misses they do not deserve world cup
I didn’t really want to say anything political, but with everything happening in the world right now, it feels like the United States can do whatever they want—whether it’s Venezuela, the situation with Greenland, now Cuba, or of course Iran. If any other country behaved like that, they would immediately be excluded from the World Cup or have their hosting rights taken away.
All I’m trying to say is this: yes, it’s sports and politics shouldn’t be involved, but I think it’s disappointing that the issue isn’t addressed at all, as if everything the U.S. does around the world is completely acceptable. And then there’s also the domestic situation with ICE.
P.S.: On top of that, the entry requirements. Many fans will have problems with them—or won’t even be able to travel there in the first place.
As an Italian, I came across this video by chance. I want to express my sincere compliments to all three guys on the show it’s been years since I’ve seen such a level of knowledge and preparation on topics like Italy, Serie A, its issues, and everything around it. They only said things that were accurate, true, detailed, and honestly beyond what I expected them to know. Really impressive, well done.