Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup continued a worrying trend for the four-time winners of the tournament.

The warnings of early exits in 2010 and 2014 were not heeded as Italy missed out on qualification in 2018 and 2022.

A third consecutive absence is a major embarrassment for a nation which still considers itself to be one of the big-hitters in international football.

While the national team will spend the summer with their feet up, Italian football fans will still have plenty of reasons to watch the World Cup.

Numerous Serie A players will be representing their respective countries at the tournament, and several of them have a genuine chance of lifting the trophy.

Read on as we look at the Serie A stars to watch out for at the 2026 World Cup, before identifying some of the noteworthy players who have missed out.

Argentina bidding to go back-to-back this summer

Reigning champions Argentina will head into the tournament as one of the bookmakers’ favourites to retain the prestigious trophy.

Punters already tracking outright odds, futures markets and tournament betting lines can review the latest insights and markets at https://www.luckyrebel.la/sportsbook/soccer/fifa-world-cup before the competition begins.

Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez will be in the squad, while Como’s Nico Paz and Máximo Perrone are also likely to feature.

Martinez has been on the sidelines since suffering a calf injury in a Champions League tie in February, but is scheduled to return to action soon.

The 28-year-old has bagged 36 goals and 11 assists in 75 appearances for Argentina and will be a key figure in their bid to win back-to-back World Cups.

Leao hoping to play a key role for Portugal

It would be fair to say that Rafael Leao has never truly lived up to expectations at international level, but that could change this summer.

The 26-year-old has tallied just five goals and seven assists in 43 appearances for Portugal, which is a poor return for a player of his quality.

Leao has struggled with his fitness in recent months, and recently spent time in his homeland to seek independent medical advice on his issues.

If he can demonstrate that he is back to his best over the final few weeks of the season, the AC Milan winger could be a useful asset for Portugal this summer.

Pulisic aiming to sparkle on home soil

Christian Pulisic has not scored for the United States in eight games, a career-high international drought that stretches back to late 2024.

Despite his struggles, the Milan star will be a guaranteed starter for the co-hosts this summer under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Recent defeats against Belgium and Portugal have cranked up the pressure on Pochettino, and he desperately needs Pulisic to rediscover his best form.

The US are scheduled to face Paraguay, Australia and Turkey in the group stage, and securing progression to the knockout phase is not a foregone conclusion.

McTominay ready to lead Scotland into battle

Scott McTominay has flourished since joining Napoli from Manchester United in 2024. He will be a key part of the Scotland squad this summer.

His stunning goal in the 4-2 win against Denmark that clinched a spot at the 2026 World Cup will be remembered as one of the greatest moments in Scotland’s history.

McTominay will need to be at his best if Scotland are to have any chance of progressing out a group containing Brazil, Morocco and Haiti.

His blend of defensive tenacity and forward thrust provides the Tartan Arm’s midfield with much needed balance. If he plays well, Scotland tend to play well.

Italy’s latest flop dents Serie A representation at the World Cup

Italy’s devastating penalty shootout defeat by Bosnia & Herzegovina resulted in them becoming the first previous winners to miss three consecutive World Cups.

The Serie A stars who feature in the Italian squad join a sizeable list of top-flight players who have missed out on this summer’s tournament. The most notable names are as follows:

• Nicola Zalewski (Poland, Atalanta)
• Piotr Zielinski (Poland, Inter)
• Gianluca Mancini (Italy, Roma)
• Alessandro Bastoni (Italy, Inter)
• Nicolo Barella (Italy, Inter)
• Federico Dimarco (Italy, Inter)
• Rasmus Hojlund (Denmark, Napoli)
• Adam Marusic (Montenegro, Lazio)
• Nikola Krstovic (Montenegro, Atalanta)
• Gustav Isaksen (Denmark, Lazio)
• Stanislav Lobotka (Slovakia, Napoli)
• Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (Cameroon, Napoli)
• Maduka Okoye (Nigeria, Udinese)
• Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Nigeria, Lazio)
• Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia, Napoli)
• Dusan Vlahovic (Serbia, Juventus)
• Lazar Samardzic (Serbia, Atalanta)
• Strahinja Pavlovic (Serbia, Milan)
• Edon Zhegrova (Kosovo, Juventus)

Italy’s failure on this occasion can primarily be linked to financial issues in Serie A. The Italian top flight struggles to match the financial strength of rival European leagues.

This has impacted their ability to invest in their youth systems, which has resulted in Italy struggling to compete on the world stage.

Como star Nico Paz is among the top five most valuable Serie A players, and it’s no coincidence that the 21-year-old is expected to return to Real Madrid soon.

Argentine talent Nico Paz is not only among the most exciting players to watch this season, but has already climbed the rankings for the most valuable players in Serie A.

According to Transfermarkt, only Lautaro Martinez (Inter), Kenan Yildiz (Juventus), and Alessandro Bastoni (Inter) are more valuable than Nico Paz currently.

This is just his second season in Serie A, but Paz proved to be a real difference maker at the Stadio Sinigaglia with 10 goals and six assists in 29 Serie A appearances this term.

His performances have helped Como climb to fourth in Serie A, placing them among the contenders for a Champions League spot.

Due to the history and tradition of Juventus and Roma, who are Como’s main rivals, the odds are still fairly attractive for those who believe Como will go all the way through to qualify for Europe’s elite competition for the first time in their history.

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Under Cesc Fabregas – ironically, a Barcelona legend – product of Real Madrid academy, Nico Paz seems to have become a top-class player. His reported €65m value is the same as Milan star Rafael Leao’s and just €5m short of Bastoni’s worth.

Fabregas had clear ideas on the development of the exciting attacking midfielder, especially at the beginning of Nico Paz’s stint in Como.

“He’s a special player, and he must be free to express himself,” the Como coach said in October 2024.

“We must not make him robotic.”

Fabregas has been using the carrot-and-stick approach with the 21-year-old. Back in February, the Spanish tactician benched Paz for a game against Lecce as the player had turned up late to a meal before the match.

Nico Paz is technically a Como player as the Azzurri confirmed his permanent purchase from Real Madrid in 2024.

Yet the Merengues can activate an option to re-sign the talented Argentine in the summers of 2026 and 2027.

“The decision is entirely up to Real Madrid. There’s nothing we can do but wait and act accordingly,” Como President Mirwan Suwarso said earlier this month.

“In any case, we’ll be happy for him and will start working to find a replacement. For now, he’s very happy here, in this big family.”

As things stand, Nico Paz seems destined to return to the Bernabeu in 2026-27, but Como will want to enjoy him for a few more months, which could lead to a historic qualification for the Champions League or Europa League.