ITALY – AWAY SHIRT 2018
Italy’s national team are one of international football’s true heavyweights, representing a country with a rich and storied footballing tradition. The Azzurri have spent much of their history among the world’s elite, winning four FIFA World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006) and two UEFA European Championships (1968, 2020). Renowned for their tactical intelligence, defensive mastery and effortlessly stylish blue shirts, Italy remain one of the most successful and respected nations in the game.
This remarkable legacy has been shaped by legendary figures such as Paolo Maldini, Roberto Baggio, Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Alessandro Del Piero.
In 2018, Italy wore this crisp white away shirt that stayed true to the nation’s classic secondary colours. The design was clean and elegant, often complemented by subtle blue detailing, reflecting the timeless aesthetic long associated with the Azzurri.
However, this shirt became tied to one of the most difficult moments in Italy’s footballing history. Following a disappointing qualifying campaign for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Azzurri were forced into a playoff against Sweden. Over two tense legs, Italy were unable to find a breakthrough and were eliminated after a 1–0 aggregate defeat, marking their first failure to qualify for a World Cup since 1958.
The result signalled the end of an era, with several legendary players stepping away from international football and prompting a period of rebuilding for the national team.
As of 2026, Italy have narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, finishing second behind Erling Haaland’s Norway in their qualifying group. The Azzurri until recently still had a route to the tournament via the playoffs, where victories over Northern Ireland and then Bosnia & Herzegovina would have secured their place. However, following a dramatic 120 minutes (where Italy had a red card in the first half), Italy remarkably lost to Bosnia & Herzegovina on penalties.
This made it 3 successive World Cups that Italy have missed out on! And for a nation with the likes of Federico Dimarco, Alessandro Bastoni, Sandro Tonali, and Manuel Locatelli there will be a serious rejig in the Italian Football Association to rectify their form, with manager Gennaro Gattuso already leaving.
Follow the Azzurri on X: @Azzurri
