A World Cup final without Serie A. It hasn't happened in almost
According to Tuttomercatoweb.
Context
The absence of Serie A players in the 2026 World Cup final is a clear indication of a change in the global football landscape. The presence of Spanish talents playing in the United States, such as Busquets and Alba, highlights the growing influence of Major League Soccer in developing high-level players, an aspect that could influence the dynamics of the European soccer market.
Why it matters
The 2026 World Cup final marks a historic moment for football, highlighting the absence of Serie A players, an event that has not occurred for almost fifty years. This fact raises questions about the competitiveness of the Italian league and its ability to attract world-class talent. The absence of Italian representation in such a prestigious final could also influence the future transfer strategies of Serie A teams.
Key points
- A World Cup final without Serie A. It almost hasn't happened in a while.
- Last night the whole planet, at least that part that loves football, watched with bated breath the last act of the 2026 World Cup, which saw Spain get the better of a hawkish Argentina in extra time, thanks to the decisive goal...
- A World Cup final without Serie A. It hasn't happened for almost fifty years.
Last night the whole planet, at least that part that loves football, watched with bated breath the last act of the 2026 World Cup, which saw Spain get the better of a hawkish Argentina in extra time, thanks to Rodri's decisive goal. A final of great intensity, with both teams giving their all, but which unfortunately for the neutrals had not been packaged in the best way, indeed, as we read in an article in Marca, it was a bad final, with many errors, many fouls, fragmented play, in short, not a great advertisement for football. But let's get to us, what interests us is the pitch, and what stands out is that for the first time in the history of the World Cups, and here we would need to open a parenthesis, because for the first time in the history of the World Cups, but also for the first time in almost fifty years, in a World Cup final there was no Serie A player, nor were there any Serie A players in the semi-finals. This fact makes you think, it makes you think a lot, and there are many factors to analyse, let's start from the fact that the final was won by Spain, and in Spain, currently, the strongest players, the ones who make the difference, are not in La Liga, but practically all of them are in the United States, just think of players like Busquets, Alba, Vela, but also young people like Pepi, Musah, in short, the Spaniards are making the most of the MLS, and this is also linked to the fact of the players Argentinians, because even the Argentinians, the strong ones, the ones who make the difference, are no longer in Europe, but practically everyone is in America now, so it also explains the fact, what I was saying before, that for the Argentinians the final match was a great battle, because for them it was also important to demonstrate that coming to America doesn't mean that you are retired, but on the contrary, you have to prove that you are still the strongest in your country, so there was this rivalry for the Argentines too. But let's go back to Europe, in Europe the situation is completely reversed, and the strongest are no longer in our teams, they are not in ours, in the European teams, but they are all in the second lines, or at least those who should be the starters of the European teams, but now they are there, they are grabbed by the Japanese, Chinese, Korean teams, in short, all of Asian football is now grabbing the strong players. I'll take Tottenham for example, Tottenham has a squad, a squad of starters, which is practically made up of all of the strong players, and yet if you go and look at the Tottenham bench, the Tottenham bench is made up of players who once would have been starters in all the other European teams, but now that's no longer the case. Therefore it also explains the fact that players like Kane, like Son, who were decisive for their teams, were not affected by injuries and therefore were able to play in the World Cup, it also explains why the Tottenham players did not participate or in any case those who participated in the World Cup participated in the other national teams, such as the Italians for example, the Italians who practically all the players from Italy who play in the Premier League took part in the World Cup, except obviously those from our Serie A who didn't get one right. So it's a problem, it's a problem to be analysed, and I don't know if our federation, if our teams will do something to remedy this situation, because it's a really embarrassing situation. In recent years we have become accustomed to seeing few Italian players in the World Cup finals, but now the numbers of foreigners playing in our Serie A are also starting to become worrying.
What happens now
With Spain having triumphed, attention is now expected to shift to upcoming international competitions, including preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Italian club teams may need to review their scouting and development policies to ensure a greater presence in future tournaments. Furthermore, Italian football will have to face a profound reflection on how to improve its image and competitiveness at an international level.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the 2026 World Cup final?
The final saw Spain win against Argentina in extra time thanks to a goal from Rodri.
Who confirmed the absence of Serie A players in the final?
The Marca article highlighted that for the first time in the history of the World Cups there were no Serie A players in the final.
Why is the absence of Serie A players in the final important?
It is significant because it has not happened for almost fifty years and raises questions about the current situation of Italian football.
What changes have led to the absence of Serie A players?
The best Spanish and Argentine players are currently in the United States, making the most of MLS.
What can be deduced from the absence of Serie A players in the semi-finals?
The absence of Serie A players in the semi-finals and final suggests a change in the European and American football landscape.
