Missing out on the World Cup for a third consecutive tournament has dampened enthusiasm among Italian football fans, but many are still finding reasons to follow the action.
For supporters such as Salvatore Piluso from Sicily, the tournament remains special because it could be the final World Cup appearance for some of football’s most iconic names.
“I always find the World Cup fascinating, though Italy’s absence makes me follow it with less enthusiasm,” he said.
“This World Cup is special because it may be the last one featuring players who defined an era for my generation, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar.”
Others have adopted new teams to support, particularly nations coached by Italians or emerging underdogs hoping to make history.
Milan-based fan Alberto Cocuzza said he would be backing Brazil and Uzbekistan because they are led by Italian coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Fabio Cannavaro respectively.
He also expressed support for surprise packages such as Curacao, Haiti, Panama and Cape Verde.
Despite the global excitement surrounding the tournament, signs of World Cup fever remain limited across Italy.
In Rome, cafes and public spaces have shown little of the usual buzz associated with football’s biggest event, with many supporters struggling to fully embrace a competition without the Azzurri.
Italian football is also facing uncertainty off the pitch. The Italian Football Federation remains without a president following Gabriele Gravina’s resignation in April after the country’s World Cup qualifying playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Meanwhile, the national team coaching position remains vacant following Gennaro Gattuso’s departure, although former manager Roberto Mancini has been linked with a return.
For now, Italian fans are watching from afar, enjoying the final chapter of several football legends while hoping their own nation can return to the World Cup stage in 2030.
