For some Italians, their team’s absence from the biggest tournament in soccer is a metaphor for a broader national malaise.

The 1982 FIFA World Cup was held in Spain. While this World Cup had some fine teams, the structure of this tournament let it down somewhat. In the end, Italy came out on top. The Story Of The 1982 ...

Italy has lifted the World Cup four times (in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006), which puts the Azzurri among the most successful national teams in the history of the game. Yet the question of which ...

The 2026 World Cup will feature many of the world's top national teams; however, a historic powerhouse like Italy will not be among the participants. Throughout World Cup history, a select group of ...

Fulvio Collovati has launched a fierce attack on FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the expanded 48-team World Cup format, with the 1982 World Cup winner accusing the governing body’s chief of ...

In 1982, Spain hosted the tournament, which increased to 24 finalists, evoking considerable controversy long before a ball was kicked in what Argentina’s Diego Maradona would later label “a World Cup ...

Since Spain 1982, no team drawn into Group F has ever won the FIFA World Cup. Croatia reached the final in 2018, and Morocco made history as the first African nation to reach the semifinals in 2022, ...

FIFA looks back at the rich history of the World Cup's group stages through a host of memorable statistics and fascinating stories.

The 2026 World Cup will be the largest ever, featuring 48 teams across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Despite a rich history with four World Cup titles, Italy failed to qualify for the ...

The Scotland squad for the 1982 World Cup was the most internationally adept the nation had ever assembled. Ten European Cup winners' medals between them from the previous five years, three Uefa Cup ...

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. How do you select the most memorable moments from an international ...