Italy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Gli Azzurri compete in Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Luciano Spalletti, captain Gianluigi Donnarumma. UEFA qualifier.
Italy's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Ranked inside the FIFA top 10, Italy arrives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as one of the genuine title contenders. Bookmakers and pundits have them in the conversation alongside the rest of the elite.
Italy is the highest-ranked side in Group L (avg. opponent rank #40). They are expected to top the group, but Croatia and Honduras are realistic challengers.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for Italy: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group L is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first Italy match of the World Cup is scheduled for Thursday, June 18 against Croatia at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Italy 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
Italy World Cup history
Italy are a former World Champion ((1934, 1938, 1982, 2006)). With 19 previous FIFA World Cup appearances, they remain one of the most experienced sides in the tournament. Recent form across the last five editions: DNQ, DNQ, Champions, Group, Runner-up.
Get Italy data via API
// Fetch Italy World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=italy',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Italy in at the 2026 World Cup?
Italy is in Group L alongside Croatia, Honduras, Norway. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group L is #40.
Who is Italy's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Luciano Spalletti manages Italy at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Gianluigi Donnarumma as captain.
What is Italy's best World Cup finish?
Italy's best FIFA World Cup finish is Champions (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). They have appeared in 19 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: DNQ, DNQ, Champions, Group, Runner-up.
Who are Italy's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Gianluigi Donnarumma leads a squad whose standout names include Federico Chiesa, Nicolò Barella, Gianluigi Donnarumma. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did Italy qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
UEFA qualifier. They came through the UEFA qualifying pathway.
What is Italy's current FIFA Ranking?
Italy are ranked #10 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Ranked inside the FIFA top 10, Italy arrives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as one of the genuine title contenders. Bookmakers and pundits have them in the conversation alongside the rest of the elite.
What are Italy's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
Italy is the highest-ranked side in Group L (avg. opponent rank #40). They are expected to top the group, but Croatia and Honduras are realistic challengers. Ranked inside the FIFA top 10, Italy arrives in the United States, Canada, and Mexico as one of the genuine title contenders. Bookmakers and pundits have them in the conversation alongside the rest of the elite.
How can I get Italy fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all Italy World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for Italy going back to their first tournament.
Build a Italy app with live World Cup data
7-day free trial. All endpoints included on every plan.