Overview
- Martínez told DSports that Europeans “don’t know what South America is,” citing long travel, altitude, heat, hostile venues and uneven pitches as real hurdles.
- Gattuso complained after Italy’s 2-0 win over Moldova that six wins and 18 points still leave his side facing play-offs, later saying he is being “massacred in South America.”
- Italy sit second in UEFA Group I behind unbeaten Norway and would need a nine-goal win on Sunday to avoid the play-offs, which are scheduled as single-leg ties in March.
- Coverage highlights FIFA’s 2026 allocation as context: Europe gets 16 of 48 World Cup slots, while South America has six direct places and a seventh via an intercontinental play-off.
- Reports note Paraguay qualified from sixth place in CONMEBOL, an example used to contrast formats with UEFA groups where runners-up still face additional hurdles.