Belgium coach laments Italy's World Cup absence, urges federation overhaul

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia has publicly lamented Italy's absence from the 2026 World Cup, telling the foreign press that the tournament is 'not the same' without the Azzurri. Garcia, the former Roma and Napoli manager preparing for his first World Cup as a coach, used Italy's predicament as a cautionary tale for his own federation, according to Yahoo Sports.

Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff round, a collapse that ended the country's participation in back-to-back tournaments. The loss came 64 days before Luxembourg and Italy's Nations League fixture this week, a match that has forced the Italian federation to make decisions on squad composition and tactical direction.

Garcia's intervention reflects how Italy's absence has reverberated through European football. The Belgian coach urged his own federation to 'work on the foundations and develop young talent'—a direct reference to the long-term planning that Italy has lacked in recent years. His comments suggest that even rival nations view Italy's absence as a warning about the consequences of short-term thinking in international football.