Gennaro Gattuso Jokes He’ll Flee Italy If Azzurri Fail To Qualify For The World Cup Again

Italy’s fiery coach Gennaro Gattuso has done it again — another passionate outburst, this time mixed with a bit of humor and a whole lot of pressure.

Following Italy’s 3–0 victory over Israel in their latest 2026 World Cup Qualifier, Gattuso jokingly vowed to “flee the country” if the Azzurri fail to make it to the tournament for the third consecutive time.

“I’ll take credit if I manage to achieve my goal [qualify for the World Cup], otherwise I’ll go and live far away from Italy,” Gattuso quipped.
“I’m already a bit far away, I’ll go even further.”

Italy’s Rocky Road To Qualification

Despite the convincing win — with Mateo Retegui scoring twice and Gianluca Mancini adding another — Italy remain second in their group behind Norway. A painful 3–0 defeat to the Norwegians earlier in the campaign and an inferior goal difference mean the European champions might still need to go through the dreaded play-offs to reach the World Cup.

Gattuso’s men have shown great form since his appointment, boasting four wins in four games, but the scars of the past two qualification failures still haunt Italian fans.

“The Doors To The Team Are Always Open”

The 46-year-old coach praised his players’ commitment and hinted that he plans to rotate the squad ahead of the play-offs.

“Everyone trains incredibly well, so I want to give space to those who aren’t playing as much,” Gattuso said. “There’ll be a lot of movement, and the doors to the national team are always open to those who do well.”

Italy’s Troubled World Cup History Since 2006

Since their World Cup triumph in 2006, Italy have struggled to find consistency on the global stage.

• Knocked out in the group stages in 2010 and 2014

• Failed to qualify in both 2018 and 2022
  Now, with Gattuso at the helm, the Azzurri are determined to avoid a third straight heartbreak.

At Sports Market International, we know football is more than a game — it’s emotion, pride, and passion. And no one embodies that better than Gennaro Gattuso.

So, will Italy finally end their World Cup curse, or will Gattuso really pack his bags and disappear into the sunset?

Stay tuned to Sports Market International, your go-to source for the best sports blog and all the latest buzz from the sports market worldwide.