Confirmed: Italy stuck in lowest world ranking since 2020 after latest FIFA update

The Italy national team are stuck in their lowest world ranking in over five years after their 4-1 defeat by Norway in November, it has been confirmed after the latest update to the FIFA tables. 

The Azzurri were comfortably beaten in a 4-1 defeat against Norway in their final World Cup qualifier on November 16, their most recent match to date. The Azzurri won six of their World Cup qualifiers, but lost twice against Norway in their first and final games of the campaign.

Those results condemned the Nazionale to a second-place finish in their World Cup qualifying group, which meant that they missed out on direct qualification to the final tournament in 2026 and will instead have to go through the play-off process for the third cycle in a row. 

After the most recent version to the FIFA world rankings, which was updated on Monday, Italy remain in 12th place, which is their lowest ranking since 2020. 

As things stand, the Azzurri are ranked behind Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Croatia and Morocco in that order. 

Curiously, Norway, who comprehensively beat Italy twice during the World Cup play-offs in recent months, are ranked in 29th place. 

Italy’s next opportunity to improve on their world ranking will come against Northern Ireland in the World Cup play-off semi-final in Bergamo on March 26.