Pirlo names Spain as 2026 World Cup favorite, laments Italy's struggles

Italian football icon Andrea Pirlo has identified Spain as the frontrunner for the 2026 World Cup title, despite acknowledging the tournament's inherent unpredictability.

Pirlo cited Spain's strong balance of quality, playing style, and international experience as key factors in his assessment. "I think Spain is the main favorite," he stated, while also admitting that "football is a difficult game to predict, so anything can happen."

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I think Spain is the main favorite. Of course there will be surprises, but football is a difficult game to predict, so anything can happen.

The former midfield maestro also voiced his deep concern regarding Italy's current football standing. The Azzurri have once again failed to qualify for the World Cup, marking their third consecutive absence from the global showpiece. Pirlo described this repeated failure as a "major disaster" for a nation with such a rich football history.

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Looking at the current situation, it is a very difficult period for the Italian national team. We have missed three consecutive World Cups. This is indeed a major disaster.

"Looking at the current situation, it is a very difficult period for the Italian national team," Pirlo said. "We have missed three consecutive World Cups. This is indeed a major disaster."

He emphasized the need for Italy to rebuild its strength for future tournaments, including EURO 2028 and the next World Cup. Pirlo, who was part of the 2006 World Cup-winning squad, also reflected on the surprising outcomes of the current tournament, pointing to the early exits of South Korea, Uruguay, Germany, Netherlands, and Brazil as examples of its unpredictable nature.

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It is not something easy for us to accept, but this is the reality we have to accept based on our current level of play. We need to start rebuilding the team and focus on the future.