Donnarumma has ‘no doubt’ about Italy’s World Cup qualification despite inevitable play-offs

Italy national team captain Gianluigi Donnarumma insists that there are ‘no doubts’ Italy will qualify for the 2026 World Cup, despite being set for a third consecutive appearance in the qualification play-offs, which have tripped the Azzurri up on the last two occasions. 

Italy have a 100% win record under new head coach Gennaro Gattuso following 3-1 and 3-0 wins over Estonia and Israel respectively during the October international break. 

Italy currently sit in second place in qualification Group I with 15 points from six matches. Norway lead the group with 18 points, and with it unlikely for Italy to overtake with two matches to go, the Azzurri are heading towards the World Cup qualification play-offs again. 

Donnarumma, who has been in and around the Italy squad since 2016, knows how it feels to not qualify for the World Cup all too well, He insists that he and his teammates have learned from past mistakes and will not allow themselves to fall short in the play-offs for a third consecutive time.  

“It won’t happen for a third time. This national team will end up at the next World Cup, I have no doubts,” Donnarumma said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

“The lessons from the past make sense if you learn from them. We won’t underestimate anybody, we won’t take anybody lightly, that wouldn’t make any sense. This group loves each other. We will be ready when the time for the play-offs comes.” 

The World Cup qualification play-offs are due to kick off with single-legged semi-finals on March 26, and then single-leg finals on March 31.

“That time will let us become even more in tune with the coach, to understand his ideas and become familiar with his football.” 

Donnarumma insists that he and his national team colleagues are not frightened by the prospect of having to play in the World Cup play-offs despite being knocked out of them on the last two occasions. 

“The word play-offs doesn’t scare us, it won’t affect us,” he insisted. 

“This new group is healthy, united and beautiful. I say this with certainty. We’re good together, we’re in harmony with one another.”