Gattuso raises doubts about the system
Gennaro Gattuso felt unhappy this weekend. Italy then lost 4-1 at home to Norway, which pushed them into the risky play-offs. The memories of 2018 and 2022 still hurt because Italy failed in the play-offs both times. The four-time world champions now need two single-leg wins to reach the 2026 World Cup. This comes despite winning six of eight qualifiers. Gattuso argued that Europe faces tougher conditions compared to South America and Africa. His comments triggered a debate about fairness.
What Gattuso actually said
Gattuso spoke on Friday when Italy’s fate was almost sealed by goal difference. He recalled that past runners-up sometimes qualified directly. He questioned why a strong record no longer guarantees a safe path. He pointed to Africa’s increased number of spots and to South America’s high direct quota. He said the system creates frustration and sadness for European teams. He argued that Europe needs structural change. Several details in his claims were incorrect, but his frustration felt real.
Does his criticism have merit?
Europe’s system changed because far more nations now compete. In 1990 only 32 teams played in European qualifying. In 1994 there were 39. Today 54 teams fight for 16 spots at the 2026 World Cup. Larger groups would need more matchdays than the calendar allows. UEFA chose smaller groups to avoid overload. Italy were top seeds but faced a fast-rising Norway. They lost both games clearly with a 7-1 aggregate score. Their struggle came from sporting results, not only structure.
Is South America’s path too easy?
South America has only 10 nations competing for six direct places. That equals 60%, far above Europe’s rate. Yet the region has exceptional competitive strength. Bolivia are the lowest ranked at 76th and eight of the ten sides sit inside the top 50. Europe has more depth but also many nations ranked far lower. Bolivia still have a possible route despite ten defeats, but their schedule included eight matches against top-20 teams. Italy had lighter travel demands and fewer long-haul breaks. Their path looked easier in logistical terms.
How fair is the system for Africa?
Africa will send nine teams in 2026, including established sides like Morocco, Senegal and Egypt. Six African nations rank inside the global top 50. Ghana sit lowest among them at 73rd. None appear undeserving on quality alone. Europe’s share of World Cup slots dropped from 54% in the 1990s to 33.33% today. Yet Europe still holds nearly half of the world’s top-50 teams. Africa have 14% of the top-50 teams but receive 21.43% of the automatic slots. This suggests mild over-representation but not dramatic imbalance. Concacaf aligns closely with its strength level. Asia stands out most, with only four top-50 teams but eight automatic places.
Was Gattuso right after all?
Gattuso mixed frustration with some valid points. Europe may receive slightly fewer places than its competitive weight suggests. Yet Italy’s situation also reflects their own results. Sympathy from other regions will remain unlikely.
