• The Italian Football Federation aims to leverage Gattuso’s tactical expertise and strict personality to enforce discipline within the squad

Italy’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup are witnessing exciting developments, after reports revealed that FIFA intends to modify the ranking system for national teams before the tournament draw, a change that could benefit the “Azzurri” under new coach Gennaro Gattuso

A new ranking system changes the calculations

According to several European media outlets, FIFA is considering altering the method of ranking teams participating in the 2026 World Cup, relying solely on the official FIFA world ranking at the time of the draw, without considering the qualification method, whether through direct qualifiers or the continental playoff

Under the current system, teams are divided into pots based on their results in the qualifiers, which usually places teams advancing through playoffs in lower pots, facing stronger opponents in the group stage

However, under the proposed change, Italy, currently holding a high position in FIFA rankings, would benefit from this system even if they qualify via the playoff, placing them in a higher pot and giving them a better chance to avoid facing top teams such as Argentina, France, or England in the first round

Italy faces a complex qualification path

This comes as the Italian national team faces a sensitive situation in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, currently sitting second in their group behind Norway, complicating direct qualification and forcing them into the crucial European playoff

Despite the challenges, Gattuso expressed optimism in recent press conferences, asserting that the team has the quality and spirit needed to reach the finals

The Italian coach stated:Italy has always found its way in difficult times. What we need is confidence and discipline, and I am confident this generation can restore the Azzurri to their rightful place among the world’s elite

Gattuso restores morale and identity

Since taking over in June 2025 from Luciano Spalletti, Gennaro Gattuso has worked to rebuild Italy’s fighting identity, relying on a mix of experienced and young players such as Nicolò Barella, Federico Chiesa, and Raffaele Silva, while injecting fresh talent from Italian clubs

The Italian Football Federation seeks to exploit Gattuso’s tactical knowledge and strict personality to enforce discipline within the squad, following a period of instability after Italy failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and exited early from Euro 2024

2026 World Cup in an expanded format

The 2026 World Cup will be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with a record 48 teams participating for the first time, increasing the importance of the new ranking system, especially for teams advancing via additional qualification stages

Analysts believe Italy will be among the main beneficiaries of this change due to its historical significance and high FIFA ranking, potentially giving the team a more balanced group stage path and restoring its serious competition for the title missing since 2006

With the upcoming improvements in the ranking system and Gattuso at the helm, the Italian national team appears ready for a new phase, aiming to regain lost prestige in major tournaments and bring the “Azzurri” back to the global spotlight at the 2026 World Cup