It appears that Gennaro Gattuso, the coach of Italy’s national football team, may have anticipated his team’s inability to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as early as last year. In a December critique that has resurfaced, he expressed dissatisfaction with the disparities in the qualification pathways teams from various continents encounter on their way to the World Cup. He specifically pointed out that in South America, six out of ten teams qualify directly, with the seventh team entering a playoff against a team from Oceania. This situation, according to Gattuso, evokes feelings of regret and sadness, as it suggests that underdog teams are gaining entry through less challenging routes while statistically stronger teams are left out of the tournament.
However, Gattuso’s statements contained inaccuracies. The seventh-placed team in the CONMEBOL region does not necessarily face an Oceania team in a playoff; in fact, the Latin American country in question lost to Iraq, which is part of the Asian confederation. He also expressed concern about the increased number of berths allocated to African nations, noting that only two African teams participated in the World Cups of 1990 and 1994, compared to nine teams now. This shift is a concern for Gattuso.
While FIFA’s qualification system is not without its flaws, it is challenging to find a better solution that would make the tournament a truly global event, rather than resembling a European competition. The complexity of the situation arises from the fact that different continents have varying numbers of football-playing nations. UEFA boasts the largest membership with 55 teams, while CONMEBOL has the fewest, making it difficult for Latin America to form multiple qualifying groups. Similarly, Europe cannot accommodate a 55-team group competing across the continent due to calendar constraints. The qualification formats for Africa and Asia are comparable to UEFA’s, reflecting the large number of competing nations.
Although Gattuso noted a decrease in the percentage of slots allocated to European teams—dropping from 54 percent in the 1990s to 33.33 percent for the 2026 tournament—it’s essential to recognize that the number of countries in Europe has increased. In 1990, Europe had 35 sovereign states; today, there are 44. The discrepancy in UEFA membership versus the number of European countries is partly due to countries like Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan being classified as transcontinental.
The gap between the top footballing nations is also narrowing. Seven of the top ten teams globally are from Europe, and half of the top 50 teams hail from the continent. While Italy has experienced a decline, it remains competitive compared to many nations that have qualified. The World Cup is not solely about the strongest teams on paper; it also celebrates the diverse football cultures across the world. For instance, New Zealand, ranked 85th, would not be fairly represented if only one team from that region qualified for the World Cup.
A more significant issue contributing to the perception of unfairness is the allocation of spots to Asian teams. Despite having only four nations in the top 50, Asia receives eight automatic spots. Additionally, Sweden’s qualification was controversial; they finished last in their qualifying group yet advanced to the playoffs due to their performance in the Nations League, where they benefitted from playing at a neutral venue in the semifinal against Ukraine.
The current system of allocation enriches the tournament by allowing for a more diverse representation of nations, as opposed to a model based solely on rankings. This approach creates compelling narratives and enables teams from smaller nations, like Cape Verde and Curacao, to participate in the event. The emotional stories of players from countries like Iraq resonate deeply with audiences. Of the 48 teams competing, several have not previously qualified, highlighting the event’s role in celebrating diverse cultures and uniting fans worldwide. It is also an attempt to rectify the historical dominance of European nations in World Cup representation, advocating for a fairer distribution of spots to foster the growth of football globally.
Moreover, it is shortsighted to claim that some teams do not deserve their spots. Apart from Cape Verde, Africa’s qualifiers, including Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia, are well-established in the international arena. Similarly, six teams from Latin America and five of six from CONCACAF rank among the top 50. Thus, Gattuso’s reflections may have been influenced by emotion rather than grounded in a clear understanding of the current landscape of international football, demonstrating a rare lapse in judgment from the usually formidable midfielder.
