World Cup 2026, the draws: Italy's (eventual) easy round
The draw for the 12 rounds of the World Cup was made in Washington. The Azzurri, if they make it through the playoffs in March, are expected to face Canada, Qatar and Switzerland
It was a draw that will go down in history that of the 2026 World Cup, regardless of whether or not it will be 'the greatest event mankind will ever see', as FIFA president Gianni Infantino triumphantly announced. At his side to mark the ceremony that kicks off the football event with the definition of the 12 days in which the 48 qualified national teams will be grouped, US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum took to the stage at the Kennedy Center in Washington to draw the names of their respective national football teams from the ballot boxes.
"Fifa has been humanity's official provider of happiness for over 100 years. We are celebrating World Cup 2026, the biggest World Cup ever," Infantino added. "We have three wonderful countries, 16 cities and 48 teams that will compete to become world champions. We will have an exciting summer, it will be unique, stellar, spectacular with 7 million people in the stadiums and 6 billion people watching it on TV from all over the world. Like 104 Superbowls in one month, this is the magic we have achieved'.
A Trump galvanised by the Fifa Peace Prize in this regard found an opportunity to admit that 'this is football: we should have called American football something else' to thank Canada and Mexico for their cooperation in the organisation of the World Cup ("We worked very closely with these two countries, and the coordination, friendship and relationship was exceptional") and to recall how before kick-off "more tickets were sold than at any other event".
US sporting greats also paraded on stage: former hockey player Wayne Gretsky, Aaron Judge from baseball, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal and American football icon Tom Brady.
The draw for Italy
Canada, Qatar and Switzerland could be Italy's first opponents at the 2026 World Cup. The winner of the play-off involving the Azzurri has, in fact, been drawn for Group B of the World Cup. To reach the final stage of the tournament, however, Gattuso's men will have to prevail in the playoff also involving Northern Ireland, Wales and Bosnia in March. The date of the World Cup final has been set for Sunday 19 July, while the opening match will take place on Thursday 11 June.
