Overview
- Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso criticized FIFA’s allocation of World Cup places, calling it unfair that six South American teams qualify directly with a seventh into a playoff.
- Gattuso’s comments came as Italy trailed Norway in European qualifying, leaving the Azzurri likely needing a March playoff route.
- Emiliano Martinez responded that Europeans “don’t know what South America is,” arguing they play on perfect, watered pitches unlike many venues in his region.
- Martinez cited altitude, heat, long travel, hostile atmospheres and variable pitch quality as factors that make CONMEBOL qualifiers uniquely demanding.
- Context from the current cycle: Argentina have secured 2026 qualification alongside Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay, with Bolivia still in contention via a playoff.